Some of the highlights over the past few weeks have included a woodlark which was seen and heard flying over the reserve on 23/10, a rare species here with only one previous record from January 2010; a jack snipe on 2/11 which flew from the estuary and later gave good views on the deep lagoon; and two avocets close in front of the Carneddau hide on 9/11 (library photo by Ben Andrew, RSPB Images).
Other waders have included individual spotted redshank seen regularly with the redshank flocks, and greenshank which have put in frequent appearances with a maximum of 10 birds on 18/9 and 20/10. Black-tailed godwit have also been regular, while knot and bar-tailed godwit have been seen occasionally. Snipe have often been present around the lagoons, and a woodcock was seen near the car park entrance at dusk on 3/11.
Wildfowl and other water birds have become more varied over recent weeks with a few highlights included a female goldeneye on 1/10, a species which has become a lot scarcer on the reserve in recent years; whooper swans with two on 9/10, individuals on 10/10 and 24/10, and a group of eight reported overhead on 16/11; and two drake pintail on 12/11. Shoveller have been present in relatively good numbers for the site with a peak count of 54 on 20/10, while other maximum counts have included 34 little grebe on 18/10, eight merganser on 17/11, and up to two pochard which have often been present. Water rail have put in numerous appearances, particularly around the Bridge Pond and in front of the café, while kingfisher have been seen occasionally, and great white egret have been present around the estuary on most days including a maximum of nine reported on 9/10.
The summer migrants are well behind us now, with the last wheatear record on 28/9, and a rather late movement of house martins with at least 100 birds passing over the lagoons on 7/10. Sightings of a ring-necked parakeet on 8/10 and 10/10 were unusual, while more regular species around the reserve for the time of year have included flocks of siskins with a high count of 20 on 23/10 (library photo by Ben Andrew, RSPB Images), small numbers of Cetti’s warbler, stonechat, redwing and goldcrest, and choughs passing overhead.
Insects have also mostly disappeared now, with a few dragonflies recorded well into the autumn including southern hawker, migrant hawker and common darter with the last sighting on 5/11.