Good evening! It is still light outside whilst I write this, which is very encouraging. The weather is still bitterly cold however. But this did not stop people from venturing out on the reserve today and we were showered with a range of bird and wildlife sightings. I myself was able to spot a kingfisher cleaning its feathers by the pond in our car park, I didn't even need binoculars to see its dazzling colours - I only wish I had my camera with me!
Kingfisher. Photo credit: John Bridges (rspb-images.com)
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Todays highlights include:
2 red-crested pochards at Denge Marsh
1 male and 2 female smew on the pond behind the carpark (also where I saw the kingfisher - sadly I did not see these too)
5 goldeneye on Burrowes pit
A black necked and slavonian grebe on New Diggings
2 bitterns, bearded tits and a raven at Denge Marsh
A water rail and 7 curlew also at Denge Marsh
2 long eared owls were showing extremely well today down by the dipping pond
A Cetti's warbler was seen by the Boulderwall farmhouse
A stoat which a few people saw along the entrance track
Other sightings from this week include:
2 ringed plover on Burrowes pit on the 20th
Egyptian geese and 250 wigeon at Denge Marsh on the 21st
2 goldcrests at ARC on the 21st
Snipe at Denge Marsh and a stonechat by the entrance to the reserve on the 23rd
Great white egret at the pit near Boulderwall on the 24th
20 dunlin at Denge Marsh and a little stint and 2 pintails on Burrowes pit on the 24th
The glossy ibis was seen again briefly at Denge Marsh yesterday (25th)
Chiffchaffs, long tailed tits and a firecrest were seen by Firth hide yesterday too!
Birds of prey
This week has been absolutely fantastic for birds of prey sightings! We've had a few clear sunny days with only a small breeze, so hunting conditions must have been very good for them. A sparrowhawk was seen over Scott's hide on the 20th. On the 24th, a merlin was seen over Denge Marsh and a barn owl was spotted over the entrance track. A buzzard, marsh harrier and a peregrine were all seen yesterday too! And don't forget our super long eared owls who have been seen almost every day this week too! We can't get enough of them!
Peregrine. Photo credit: Ben Hall (rspb-images.com)