Quite a nice range of birds and wildlife about at the moment as autumn kicks off in style. There was both little stint and curlew sandpiper yesterday with daily records of over 20 spotted redshank, green sandpiper, greenshank, black tailed godwit, snipe, ruff and golden plover. There were also 3 ringed plover and a few dunlin about earlier in the week too, high tides are turning towards the mornings now so the waders are generally best then.
800 pinkies went over the reserve this morning making a fantastic sight and sound, also quite a few accompanying pintail with a few wigeon. A build up of over 300 teal on the lagoons mid week have been making the most of the extra rainfall.
Merlin seem to be heading the raptor charge at the moment with a stunning adult male this morning and a large female that put the wind up the lapwings. Plenty of marsh harrier about especially at roost time and then the occasional barn owl and Peregrine.
The winter chill seems to be speeding up overhead migration with 30 siskin over this morning and plenty of house martins, meadow pipits and the odd redpoll. Some beardies were calling up at Ousefleet and there are still a few yellow wagtails around in front of Ousefleet.
Plenty of interesting other bits and bops about at the moment and a good range of fungi starting to appear thanks to the rain. Keep an eye out for roe deer and hare and you never know the otter may put in another appearance! Hornets have been a bit scarce this year due to the cold but we have been seeing a few about in the last few weeks
And to prove small is beautiful, Below; Petticoat Mottlegill fungi
Hornet that had entered the moth trap!
And finally a nice little fungi I found this morning - will ID tonight!