Raptors
Hen harrier
Marsh harrier
Barn owl
Buzzard
Kestrel
Sparrowhawk
Water Fowl
Russian white fronted goose
Whooper swan (nearby fields)
Mute swan
Canada goose
Greylag goose
Pochard
Tufted duck
Shelduck
Wigeon
Teal
Shoveler
Mallard
Gadwall
Coot
Moorhen
Waders
Bittern
Curlew
Redshank
Ruff
Lapwing
Dunlin
Snipe
Golden plover (over estuary)
Water rail
Passerines
Kingfisher
Tree sparrow
Gold crest
Cetti’s warbler
Stonechat
Fieldfare
Redwing
Blackbird
Starling
Reed bunting
Chaffinch
Dunnock
Wren
Great tit
Blue tit
Robin
Other
Magpie
Carrion crow
Wood pigeon
Collared dove
Pheasant
Black headed gull
Reserve News
The nights are getting lighter and there are the first glimmers of spring showing at the reserve just now. Snowdrops abound and the coots are certainly more boisterous, their heads down aggressively chasing each other off.
The birding spectacle hasn’t disappointed. Roz Hilditch sent us these brilliant pics of Russian white fronted geese. These have become increasingly rare in UK in recent times as milder winters have meant they have tended to over winter in Netherlands rather than cross the channel to us.
Russian white fronted goose (Pic: Roz Hilditch)
The ‘Reedling Roosting’ barn owl continues to roost in the trees to the left of Reedling hide, making it an easy daytime spot just now. Later in the afternoon it has come out of roost to join the other two barn owls hunting. Regular, Andy H., managed to capture these amazing behavioural shots of a marsh harrier driving it away. Thankfully the marsh harrier was just intention was to protect it’s hunting ground and no serious harm caused.
Marsh harrier v Barn owl (Pic: Andy H.)
Such a stunning capture Andy – thanks for sharing with us!
Keep your eyes open for upcoming VIP access dawn chorus event in March!
Happy Birding
Keep up to date with all the latest from Blacktoft.