Ruff
An unusual influx of Ruff this late in 'winter' with 134 birds, making it the biggest count in 2012. Good wader numbers including, 88 Avocet, 62 Black-tailed Godwit, 84 Oystercatcher, 400 Lapw [...]
An unusual influx of Ruff this late in 'winter' with 134 birds, making it the biggest count in 2012. Good wader numbers including, 88 Avocet, 62 Black-tailed Godwit, 84 Oystercatcher, 400 Lapwing, 15 Redshank, 10 Ringed Plover and 7 Dunlin.
Waterfowl counts included 700+ Teal, 420 Wigeon, 375 Shelduck, 43 Tufted Duck, 10 Shoveler and a few Pochard, most of the later departed at the weekend. Still 1000 Whooper Swan and 1500+ Pink-feet again, the later spending time grazing on Plover Field and Lord's Mere as the grass springs into life.
Four Marsh Harrier including a near adult male and a well marked sub-adult male and a couple of immature birds, 2 Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk, Peregrine and 3 Common Buzzard. Two Barn Owl showed well from the Harrier Hide mid-afternoon.
Other noteworthy sightings have been singing Corn Bunting along the Reed Bed Walk and Red-legged Partridge there too. Also a Goldcrest in song while feeding near the in focus shop and 60+ Fieldfare feeding in stubble opposite the reserve entrance again.
Few moths in the trap including the first Herald - Scoliopteryx libatix of the year.
http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=5101
AB
