The 150th Species
Another quality day for any birders visiting the reserve. Difficult to call a highlight as you could choose from a number of different competing birdwatching experiences. Was it 1000+ Whooper Swan? Wa [...]
Another quality day for any birders visiting the reserve. Difficult to call a highlight as you could choose from a number of different competing birdwatching experiences. Was it 1000+ Whooper Swan? Was it the excitement of scanning through the Pink-footed Geese flocks to find 10+ European White-fronted Geese? Was it watching ring-tailed Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl hunting over the fields? Or perhaps finding a pair of Greater Scaup on the Mere bringing the year list onto 150 species?!
Greater Scaup
Last years list reached 151 and so far we haven't recorded Green-winged Teal which are pretty much annual. Also given the fact that there appears to be an influx of Bean Geese into the UK (birds have been seen with local Pink-feet) we could be on for a record. Well I say a record, last year was the first 'official' year list we have compiled. Frankly there is too much 'proper work' to be done to spend time reviewing all the previous years records which go back to 1972!
Other reports today included 3 Marsh Harrier, 4 Common Buzzard, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. A distant falcon was thought to be Merlin. Two Raven again.
