Pink-footed Geese
An influx of Pink-footed Geese undoubtably in from Iceland started to arrive late yesterday building to 40+ this morning. The pressure charts for Iceland have hinted this possible movement although we haven't heard of any large departures from Iceland or in Scotland just yet.
Teal numbers have risen to 400+. A slight increase in Wigeon to 12. A male Pochard on the Mere was new in.
Relatively quiet on the wader front. September can produces some good counts of scarcer species for example in 2001 we had a mixed flock of 17 Curlew Sandpiper and 8 Little Stint. Wader counts for the past two days include 500+ Lapwing, 100+ Snipe, 30+ Ruff, 2 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank and a Dunlin.
Four Marsh Harrier, 2 Peregrine with a bird seen to take a Jay that was flying accross the reserve. Four Buzzard, 3 Kestrel and 2 Sparrowhawk.
Bittern seen again on the Reed Bed yesterday. Two Cetti's Warbler calling out there too.
Swift recorded yesterday, good numbers of Swallow and House Martin feeding still.
A Nuthatch was calling near the Kingfisher Hide yesterday.
Kingfishers on the Reed Bed and from the UU Hide and Ron Barker.
