The last few weeks of autumn migration have produced a nice variety of species for the reserve and some interesting highlights.
A cattle egret on 26/9 has to be the most notable record, being a first for the reserve and certainly long overdue here given the frequency of sightings in areas such as the Dee estuary and the Cefni valley on Anglesey in recent years (library photo by Ben Andrew, RSPB images).
Raptors included another sighting of hobby on 22/8 and two more marsh harrier sightings on 20/8 and 24/8. Wader migration has produced good numbers of sightings of some of the scarcer species including ruff with up two individuals present from 19/8 to 29/8 and further sightings of single birds on 18/9 and 27/9; regular sightings of up to two spotted redshank since 19/8; little stint from 19/8 to 23/8 and again from 14/9 to 20/9; green sandpiper from 22/8 to 3/9; and curlew sandpiper from 17/9 to 25/9. A garganey was also present from 25/9 up to at least 10/10, while great white egret have been recorded on 17 dates including a maximum of six birds on 23/9.
Other notable waders have included regular greenshank in relatively good numbers with peaks of 11 birds on both 17/9 and 1/10. Knot have been unusually regular with records on 12 dates including a maximum of three individuals on 14/9, while ringed plover were also recorded on several dates including a peak of 10 on 19/8. Bar-tailed godwit were seen on four dates including two birds on 3/9, while black-tailed godwit have been regular in small numbers with a maximum of 11 individuals on 5/10. Occasional whimbrel have also made appearances among the larger flocks of curlew.
Wildfowl of interest has also included eight whooper swans on the estuary on 13/10 and two pintail present from 27/8 to 5/9. Wigeon were first seen back on the reserve from 8/9, while teal numbers have built up considerably with a peak count of 341 birds on 27/9. A male pochard was present from 26/9 to 30/9, and goosander have been seen on several dates including a maximum of six on 26/8. A flock of 32 pink-footed geese over the reserve on 21/9 was another sign of the oncoming winter season.
Other water birds of interest included a common tern, a surprisingly scarce bird on the reserve with relatively few records, and a Mediterranean gull, both on 19/8. Up to two kingfisher have been present with sightings on several days, and water rail have been recorded several times although more often heard than seen.
Notable passerine migrants have included a whinchat on 19/8, redstart on 20/8, up to two wheatear seen on several dates between 5/9 and 20/9, and 25 redwing on 10/10.
Chough have also been seen regularly over the reserve with a good count of 18 birds on 25/9 (library photo by Ben Hall, RSPB images.
Meanwhile invertebrate sightings have included small copper butterfly on 2/9 and red underwing moth on 22/8. Red admirals have also been present in very good numbers recently, while migrant hawker and common dater dragonflies continue to be seen on the warmer days.