Wader Weather
Some overnight rain looks like it brought some waders onto the reserve unless they've been hiding in the wet areas out on the far North western fringes of the reserve. More interesting weather throughout the week, by which we mean some rain fronts.
A Wood Sandpiper was on the Mere mid morning. Two Green Sandpiper on Woodend Marsh seen from the Outer Reed Bed Walk. Greenshank on the Inner Reed Bed Walk. Other waders included 500+ Lapwing, 60+ Snipe, 18 Ruff, 13 Black-tailed Godwit and a ringed plover sp. Some Dunlin in briefly yesterday.
A Yellow Wagtail was with a few Grey and many Pied Wagtail on the Sewage Bed, viewed from the public footpath on the opposite side of the railway line. At least 6 Chiffchaff feeding in the area.
Kingfishers seen around the reserve. Stock Doves present around the Mere and out on the newly cut fields.
Cetti's Warbler singing left out of the Harrier Hide exit to the Inner Reed Bed Walk.
Some gulls on the move with a few Herring Gull, Common Gull and Lesser Black-backed dropping in. An imm Great Black-backed Gull can occasionally seen on the Mere. Around 350 Black-headed Gull in today.
Some big flocks of Cormorant (100+) presumed leaving the Mere Sands Wood LWT reserve this morning. In loose V-formations they can look a little like Pink-footed Geese.
Wildfowl numbers slowly increasing with c.500 Greylag, c.200 Canada, 200+ Teal, 50+ Gadwall, 30+ Shoveler, 200+ Mallard, 6 juv Shelduck, Wigeon, 2 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Whooper Swan, 2 Mute Swan and 6 Tufted Duck. Both Great-crested and Little Grebe have been seen in front of the Harrier Hide.
Raptors included Hobby, 4+ Buzzard, 3 Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. Barn Owl hunting early on at far South West of the reserve.
More Swift moving today. Still Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin feeding around the reserve.
A small Starling roost is starting to build on the Reed Bed. In recent years we have had some excellent murmurations here with up to 30,000 birds. It tends to peak towards the end of October.
Check the tit flock for warblers or possibly Treecreeper and Nuthatch which might be present but rarely get reported.
Weasal by the Discovery Hide this afternoon.
Check out the previous days sightings for a fuller picture as to what you might see on your visit and do call in at the in focus shop to report any sightings, see the full list of birds and get an idea were best to look on and around the reserve.
