Wildlife sightings for 8th November 2011
1 Bittern - south side main lake 1 Shelduck - male, main lake, 14:40 1 Pintail - female, main lake 13 Snipe - marsh, scrape, main lake 2 Jack Snipe - one left side, one right side of m [...]
1 Bittern - south side main lake
1 Shelduck - male, main lake, 14:40
1 Pintail - female, main lake
13 Snipe - marsh, scrape, main lake
2 Jack Snipe - one left side, one right side of marsh channel
1 Black-tailed Godwit - main lake
1 Curlew - circled main lake at 13:15, flew off SW
1 Golden Plover - flew NW at 11:45
1 Kingfisher - reedbed filter (wildside)
1 Rock Pipit - main lake
2 Pied Wagtail - main lake
1 Grey Wagtail - on vegetation in succession pond
2 Stonechat - male and female, marsh
2 Goldcrest - waterlife
4 Chiffchaff
6 Cetti's Warbler - 5 singing, 1 calling
12 Lesser Redpoll - wildside, waterlife
2 Mealy Redpoll - flew W
2 Siskin - flew NW
Recent bird highlights: Bittern, Peregrine, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Golden Plover, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Jack Snipe, Woodcock, Yellow-legged Gull, Caspian Gull, Short-eared Owl, Tawny Owl, Skylark, Rock Pipit, Stonechat, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer and Mealy Redpoll.
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.
