Brambling and Chaffinches feeding on the Alder seed

(male Brambling photographed by Shirley Bain)

1 Brambling - sheltered lagoon

1 Shelduck - main lake

1 Goldeneye - reservoir lagoon

1 Yellow-Legged Gull - main lake

1 Jack Snipe - wader scrape

6 Snipe - marsh, scrape

1 Bittern - main lake N shore (from Headley Hide)

16 Redwing - south route, entrance lake

 

November bird highlights: Short-eared Owl, Shelduck, Goldeneye, Bittern, Great White Egret, Snipe, Jack Snipe, Little Owl, Merlin, Peregrine, Marsh Harrier, Little Egret, Stonechat, Brambling, Water Pipit, Skylark.

Bitterns (up to 2 birds so far) can be found mostly on the main lake shores, particularly the north shore. The flooded wader scrape and marsh have plenty of feeding winter duck including Pintail, Shoveler, Wigeon and Teal, as well as Jack Snipe, Snipe and Water Pipit. Also on the main lake there’s been occasional Yellow-legged Gull, hunting Peregrine, Water Rail, Snipe and Lapwing. Gadwall and Goldeneye can be found on the reservoir lagoon. Listen out for possible Bearded Tit in the reedbed; this species often appears during November/December. Alder and Birch trees across the reserve hold some mixed flocks of Goldfinch, Siskin and a few Redpoll.

 

Winter fungi: Candlesnuff, White Saddle, Common Bonnet, Dingy Twiglet, Clustered Bonnet,  Silverleaf, Snowy Waxcap, Angel’s Bonnet, Crystal Brain, Yellow Brain, Yellowin Knight, Willow Bark-spot.

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