Wildlife sightings for 19th November 2017
1 Bittern - main lake
1 Jack Snipe - main lake
1 Goldeneye - reservoir lagoon
11 Snipe- main lake, grazing marsh, wader scrape
3 Pintail - main lake, grazing marsh
8 Water Rail - main lake, sheltered lagoon, wildside, reservoir lagoon
2 Stonechat - grazing marsh
36 Lapwing - main lake
102 Wigeon - grazing marsh, main lake
55 Gadwall - main lake, reservoir lagoon
94 Shoveler - wader scrape, main lake, grazing marsh
42 Pochard - main lake, reservoir lagoon, sheltered lagoon
38 Teal - main lake, sheltered lagoon, grazing marsh, reservoir lagoon
65 Tufted Duck - site count
151 Mallard - site count
273 Coot - site count
3 Siskin - wildside
2 Redpoll - wildside
October/early November bird highlights: Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Snipe, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Red Kite, Peregrine, Buzzard, Kestrel, Short-eared Owl, Kingfisher, Ring Ouzel, Yellow Wagtail, Stonechat, Linnet, Wheatear, Firecrest, Brambling, Skylark, Water Pipit, Crossbill, Bullfinch.
Migrants are still dropping in or passing through during November – any species is possible but look out for Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Chaffinch, Song Thrush, Redwing and Fieldfare in numbers. The fences around the marsh are a good spot for some of these passerines (like Stonechat), while the muddier parts of the marsh, main lake and wader scrape may have some waders (like Dunlin or Snipe). Tree blocks with a good mix of Willows may hold some interesting Warbler species or Firecrest, often mixed in with more common Tits and Goldcrests. Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal and Shoveler continue to arrive for the winter ahead. The first Redpolls and Siskins arrived early in October, followed by the first Redwings.
