The WeBS count was a usual-suspects affair enlivened by 11 Mandarins lurking beneath overhanging branches, a Kingfisher, a Grey Wagtail, a returning winter Reed Bunting and a Hobby soaring over the dam.
The woods are full of varied and colourful fungi - next time I’ll take a field guide…
Visible migration has got a bit more serious this weekend, with hundreds of hirundines and Meadow Pipits coasting east, accompanied by the occasional Rock Pipit, Tree Pipit and Grey Wagtail.
This morning, flocks totalling 150-200 Wigeon and a few Shoveler were arriving through the mist high over the bay. Some continued south, others went inland and 20 settled on the marsh, where there was also 2 f Garganey and a noisy party of 12 Bearded Tits. Several Little Egrets were in circulation and a m Marsh Harrier was quartering the level.
2 Bar-tailed Godwits and just a single Ringed Plover were with the Curlews on the moorlog, while beyond on the sea were 4 Eider, 6 Common Scoter and 2 Arctic Skuas > W.Â
A beautiful day started well with a report of a pectoral sandpiper flying east over the reserve. Unfortunately it wasn’t seen again! Other waders present included green sandpiper, snipe, curlew sandpiper and little stint. A mixed flock of sand martins and house martins fed in front of the Visitor Centre for a short while before moving on. A common redstart was seen at Christmas Dell and single Slavonian and red-necked grebes were found at the eastern end of the ARC pit. Also in the area, a wryneck was found at the Long pits at about 3 pm.
Highlights this morning included, 1500+ House Martin (pictured) gathering on wires at the end of Long Pit, at Castle Water a Firecrest was at the viewpoint, and 51 Little Egret were counted leaving the roost. Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Whinchat, Stonechat, 4 Cettis Warbler and 3 Kingfisher were also seen.
