Raptor activity
Pretty murky conditions on the reserve for the past couple of days but plenty of activity nonetheless. Raptors in action included 3 Marsh Harrier, one with an unidentified bird (hopefully not Marbled Duck..) as prey item, was 'robbed' by a Common Buzzard, of which at least five were seen on the reserve. Two adult Peregrine today and a Sparrowhawk, the later narrowly missing the Willow Tit at the Janet Kear Hide feeding station.
There are also plenty of waders present including 700+ Lapwing, 50+ Ruff, 10+ Common Snipe, 6 Black-tailed Godwit and 3 Dunlin. In addition 20 Fieldfare are feeding around the reserve perimeter and a kingfisher has been spotted once again.
An interesting bird to note is a Wheatear that was spotted by walkers in the neighbouring fields to us.
No reports of the Marbled Duck but given we have over 2000 Eurasian Teal scattered across the reserve there a good chance it will turn up in the next few days.
