We've started to see the starling numbers build up this week. We reckon that there are about 3000 roosting in the reedbeds - best seen briefly around 8 am when they all get up and leave, or around 6 pm as they're arriving in groups of 10 or 20. Last night, a merlin made a bold raid on one of the groups, twisting vertically downwards, but the starlings scattered and it went to perch on top of the measuring gauge outside the coffee shop to think of Plan B. Shortly afterwards, a female sparrowhawk flapped through with the same idea. It's tough being a starling!
What else has been happening this week? The best sighting was perhaps a jack snipe, not a bird we see here too often, that crouched in front of the Benarth Hide for half an afternoon on Saturday, but hasn't been seen since it was spooked by a rabbit! An adult Mediterranean gull was reported on the estuary yesterday, while the grey plover stayed for the whole week, to Sunday (17th) at least. Two choughs flew over the reserve on Sunday afternoon, the second record in less than a fortnight, so perhaps the same pair heading to a roost?
Bearded tits have been seen sporadically, with a flock of blue tits and long-tailed tits on both Friday (15th) and Sunday, and they're obviously roving widely, seen by the Afon Ganol one day and outside the coffee shop a couple of days later. A couple of chiffchaffs remain and a blackcap was seen on Saturday, but that really is the end of summer migration we think. Redwings have been roosting here in small numbers since Wednesday (14th) - listen out for their high-pitch tseep call in the mornings and evenings.
Stoats have been seen daily - please tell us in the Visitor Centre where you've seen them. In front of the Coffee Shop - where there are cowslips in bloom! - and on the causeway are two popular places to see them. And on Friday a seal was munching a flatfish in the river just off the estuary wall!
So don't let anyone tell you that there's not much to see in the autumn. Conwy is full of life!
Julian HughesSite Manager, Conwy