The last few days have been busy with people out to spot the Icterine Warbler and the Red-backed Shrike who visited us in the first few days of September. As the temperature is dropping and Autumn is now here, they are both probably preparing to start their migration south to spend the winter. Honey Buzzards were also a delight to see as three were spotted flying over the Visitor Centre last week and one was spotted on the reserve yesterday. Honey Buzzards breed in this area in the summer and migrate to Africa for the winter.
Other highlights this week include:
Egyptian goose - 2 on Burrowes pit on 31st August
Black necked grebe – at Burrowes on 2nd September
Red crested pochard – at Denge Marsh on 3rd September
Cattle egret – 3 at Denge Marsh on 3rd September
Great white egret – 3 at Denge Marsh on 3rd September
Bittern – at ARC on 31st August
Honey Buzzard three flying over Visitor Centre on 30th August and one on reserve 3rd September
Merlin – at Denge Marsh on 31st August
Hobby – 2 at Denge Marsh on 3rd September
Buzzard – 16 seen flying over the reserve on 3rd September
Avocet – two on Burrowes pit on 2nd September
Common Sandpiper – on Burrowes pit on 3rd September
Green Sandpiper – Denge Marsh on 3rd September
Little ringed plover – at Firth hide on 31st August
Golden plover – 101 at ARC and Denge Marsh on 31st August
Grey plover – on Burrowes pit on 31st August
Dunlin – ARC on 3rd September
Ruff – ARC on 3rd September
Little stint – at ARC and on Burrowes pit on 31st August
Spotted redshank – at Firth hide on 31st August
Black-tailed godwit – eight at ARC and Denge Marsh on 31st August
Black tern – ARC 1st September
White-winged black tern – two juveniles at ARC on 3rd September
Kingfisher – one at Denge Marsh on 31st August
Greenshank – ARC on 1st September
Wheatear – alongside entrance track on 31st August
Redstart – at Denge Marsh on 31st August
Whitethroat – on entrance track on 3rd September
Wheatear – Hookers pit on 1st September
Winchat – Denge Marsh on 3rd September
Lesser whitethroat – at Dengemarsh on 2nd September
Yellow wagtail – 27 by Boulderwall on 1st September
Willow warbler – Christmas Dell on 1st September
Icterine warbler – in bushes near visitor centre on 1st September
Chiffchaff – three at Denge Marsh on 31st August
Siskin – 2 at Denge Marsh on 3rd September
Spotted flycatcher – at ARC on 2nd September
Pied flycatcher – at ARC on 2nd September
Red-backed shrike - on entrance track on 3rd September
Raven – 2 at Denge Marsh on 2nd September