Latest Sightings
With the winds swinging round to the east we are in for a cold but bright week ahead, possibly longer if the forecasters super computers have got it right.
A count of roosting Whooper Swan on Sunday reached 1100 suggesting some birds will already be heading north. A relatively small roost of Pink-footed Geese of ~750 birds, although on Monday there seemed to be more birds coming in and today morning count was 1900 with another 3500+ off the reserve.
Wildfowl counts included 603 Greylag, 1500+ Teal, 485 Shelduck, 540 Wigeon, 310 Pintail, 39 Pochard, 22 Tufted Duck, 15 Shoveler and 11 Gadwall. Three Goldeneye still at the weekend.
Avocet numbers have increased to 24, at least 1900 Lapwing, 100+ Ruff, 67 Oystercatcher, 39 Black-tailed Godwit, 10+ Snipe, 2 Redshank and a Curlew calling over the Mere this morning.
Raptor sightings from the past few days have included Merlin, Peregrine, 3+ Marsh Harrier, 7+ Buzzard, 2 Kestrel and 2 Sparrowhawk.
Out on the reserve 26 Skylark, 42 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret, 2 Stonechat.
Along the Nature Trail; 35 Robin, 24 Tree Sparrow, 2 Treecreeper, 2 Mistle Thrush, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Coal Tit.
A belated report from the weekend of 4 Cattle Egret from the UU Hide. It was written on one of the centre sighting sheets but no name was given and it wasn't reported to anyone else, so there is some doubt regarding this.
If you do see anything on your visits please report the sighting to the in focus shop next to the Discovery Hide. By doing so the information can be disseminated quickly to visitors and wardens alike.
Thanks again to Lee Bailey for the some of today's counts.
