Wildlife sightings for 6th November 2011
1 Bittern - flew from reservoir lagoon, landed in the reeds to the right hand side of the nearest channel to the wildside hide 1 Little Egret - grazing marsh at 11:05 a.m. 1 Jack Snipe - right [...]
1 Bittern - flew from reservoir lagoon, landed in the reeds to the right hand side of the nearest channel to the wildside hide
1 Little Egret - grazing marsh at 11:05 a.m.
1 Jack Snipe - right hand side of main channel in marsh
1 Woodcock - landed in front of WWF hide after dusk
251 Black-headed Gull - main lake, reservoir lagoon, wader scrape
1 Kingfisher - entrance lake
1 Stonechat - a male on the marsh
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Rock Pipit - main lake
190 Starling - flew in to roost
25+ Lesser Redpoll - birches around waterlife
Recent bird highlights: Bittern, Peregrine, Green Sandpiper, Jack Snipe, Woodcock, Mediterranean Gull, Tawny Owl, Rock Pipit, Water Pipit, Bullfinch, Skylark and Stonechat.
Autumn migration continues with the chance of a range of spotting unusual waders, Warblers, Pipits and other passerines anywhere on the reserve.
Skylarks, Redwing, Fieldfare, Meadow Pipits and migrant Blackbird and Song Thrush are moving westwards on a daily basis. Some will drop into the hedges and scrub blocks which are laden with Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Rosehip fruit.
Late Wheatear might be found on the short, grazed grass banks on the marsh along with Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Rock and Water Pipit.
Look out for a real rarity like a Yellow-browed Warbler that tend to follow the Blue Tit and Long-tailed Tit flocks around.
Small flocks of Siskin, Goldfinch and Redpoll are feeding amongst the tall Alder and Birch trees.
Jack Snipe has been spotted several times on the scrape or marsh on the edges of long vegetation.
Flocks of wintering duck have settled on the reserve with Shoveler, Gadwall, Wigeon and Teal all on the increase.
The first Bitterns (2) arrived mid-October and can be found on the main lake and sheltered lagoon reed fringes at present.
