A hawfinch flew south over the Visitor Centre today (thanks to the Barnsley Birders for tweeting this) but chose not to land. A big boo.... to that! Why didn't it land? Doesn't it know what a wonderful place Old Moor is?!
You might wonder why I'm making such a fuss so here's why. Hawfinches are scarce in the UK, red listed in fact. It's not easy to find these birds and get a good view. I've only ever seen them once and that was a few years ago now and they were behind the chapel at Clumber Park. Traditionally that is a place to try to see them, as is Rufford Abbey.
However, the recent winds of Ophelia and the wild fires in Portugal have been given as reasons why the UK is currently experiencing a 'mini-invasion' of these birds. If you are on Twitter then follow @HawfinchesUK for current daily sightings. I'm on the lookout wherever I go on a walk at the moment, cup half full says that I will see one. I'll let you know if I do. :) And, let us know if you do!
So to the sightings from the book at Old Moor today.
Redwings joined the hawfinch in flying over Old Moor today and on the main marsh at Wath Ings there are sightings of 7 ruff, 9 green sandpipers, a common sandpiper and 15 golden plover.
Three pintail were on the Mere today and two grey partridge were seen in a pear tree, I mean from the Wader Scrape.
Partridge in a pear tree...it will soon be Christmas. Our fabulous shop has many things you could start to buy if you fancy. I quite like the calendars and the cards.
It must be time by now for a photo....
Here's that lovely female kestrel which is delighting so many visitors with close views. This was taken near to the screen at the TSF.
How lucky we all are to have such fabulous views of this bird and also that male sparrowhawk. There are no sightings of either in the book today however. Oh hang on a minute, there is a kestrel sighting near the VC. That'll be her I reckon.
Also today came sightings of a peregrine on the pylon, stonechats at Bolton, kingfishers at the reedbed screen, bearded tits and stonechats on the reedbed trail, a Cetti's which was heard from the Bittern Hide, goldcrest on Green Lane and a great spotted woodpecker was in the bird garden.
A couple of nights ago there was a tweet from Jeff Wragg about roosting starlings. He said approx 6000 of them roosted in the reedbeds with another 2000 or so seeming to roost at Bolton. Fingers crossed for murmurations this year.
Here's a reminder from last year...
What else? More stargazing in a couple of weeks. Here's a poster with some info. It's well worth going to in my book!
That's it, enjoy your evening.