Autumn migration is now well underway with a nice variety of wading birds seen over the past few weeks. Some of the highlights have included little ringed plover with one on 29/7, two on 7/8 and a further single bird on 9/9; individual green sandpiper on 2/8, 17/8 and 19/8, spotted redshank on four dates between 30/8 and 12/9, two curlew sandpiper on 29/8, 31/8 and 6/9, a single ruff from 31/7 to 3/8, and a little stint on 7/9. Other notable species included two sanderling on 14/8, three turnstone on 30/8 and another individual on 7/9, a grey plover on 8/9, single knot on 8/9, 10/9 and 14/9 and several bar-tailed godwit. Greenshank were regular with a peak of 11 on 4/9 (library photo by Andy Hay, RSPB Images), as were black-tailed godwit with a maximum of nine on 6/9. Whimbrel have also been fairly regular among the flocks of curlew, while snipe have often been seen around the lagoon edges. An unusual leucistic oystercatcher has also been of interest.
Wildfowl have also started to become more varied as we move further into the autumn with a pochard present since 4/9, wigeon starting to return from 6/9, a pintail on 10/9, regular shoveler with a peak so far of 18 on 12/9, and increasing numbers of teal. Little grebe have been seen in high numbers recently with at least 40 present on the deep lagoon, while great crested grebe had a successful breeding season with six young fledged from three nests, most of which have now moved on elsewhere. Other notable water birds included water rails which are now back for the winter season with the first returning bird recorded on 27/8, and kingfisher seen on six dates.
Other highlights have included an osprey on 19/7, Mediterranean gulls including two on 20/7 and an individual on 21/7, two crossbill over on 24/7, great white egrets on 16 dates including a maximum of six birds on 6/9, and a kittiwake on 9/9. Chough have already started making their regular winter movements over the reserve with the first two seen on 24/8, while other notable species have included red kites on 6/8 and 21/8, a kestrel on 4/9, and regular wheatear.
Insects are still being seen regularly, and some of the highlights from recent weeks have included several interesting moths including a rusty acorn piercer on 13/8, the first record of this species for North Wales (photo by Bob Evans), six-belted clearwing on 24/7, and several red underwings around the visitor centre recently. Butterflies have included painted lady, red admiral, meadow brown and speckled wood, while dragonflies included migrant hawker, southern hawker and common darter.