Creeping Upwards
A few more Pink-footed Geese arriving with 470 birds recorded early afternoon.
Pink-footed Geese on Vinson's Marsh (Andy Bunting)
A high count of 790 Greylag Geese. These feral birds flock with the same instincts as wild birds although it is thought wild Icelandic Greylag don't venture this far south. A single Bar-headed Goose probably hasn't flown from the Tibetan Plateau.
Excellent wader potential with plenty of exposed mud and shallow water feeding. Six Curlew Sandpiper still from the Ron Barker Hide, 2 Ringed Plover new in, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 63 Ruff, 50+ Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper and an interesting but brief appearance of a stint sp.
Raptors included 3 Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, 3+ Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk and 5+ Common Buzzard. A pale headed Common Buzzard caused some confusion out on a fence post in the haze but it definitely wasn't an Osprey.
Other birds seen today included 4 Whinchat distantly on fence posts beyond Plover Field, Yellow Wagtail on Vinson's, 80+ Stock Dove (including one partial leucistic bird) and Kingfisher.
Still Sedge Warbler along the hedgerow beyond the Reed Bed Walk. Chiffchaff and Whitethroat seen today.
