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St Aidans

Even though most of the leaves have fallen off the tress at Fairburn Ings and St Aidan’s and the weather is cold and dreary, there’s still plenty of activity going on! With flocks of golden plover roosting at St Aidan’s, and starling murmurations at Fairburn Ings, it’s a brilliant time to visit the reserves.

The top ten sightings at RSPB Fairburn Ings recently have been:

  1. Goldcrest
  2. Bullfinch
  3. Treecreeper
  4. Bittern
  5. Avocet
  6. Kingfisher
  7. Otter
  8. Green woodpecker
  9. Curlew
  10. Marsh harrier

Our star species this week is the goldcrest. This bird, alongside the firecrest, is the smallest UK bird, weighing the same amount as a sheet of A4 paper!

Here is a more extensive list of the sightings:

  • Greenfinch, long-tailed tit, great tit, goldfinch, great spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, stonechat, wren, starling, robin, fieldfare, redwing, goldcrest, dunnock, blue tit, treecreeper, lesser redpoll, chaffinch, blackbird, bullfinch, grey wagtail, curlew, coal tit and reed bunting
  • Avocet, snipe, whooper swan, pink-footed goose, grey heron, kingfisher, goosander, little egret, teal, bittern, lapwing and great crested grebe
  • Marsh harrier, red kite, buzzard and kestrel
  • Otter and roe deer

The top ten sightings at RSPB St Aidan’s recently have been:

  1. Sparrow hawk
  2. Goldcrest
  3. Yellowhammer
  4. Black necked grebe
  5. Goldeneye
  6. Shelduck
  7. Noctule bat
  8. Woodcock
  9. Golden plover
  10. Great white egret

Our star species this week is the noctule bat! This species is our largest bat species here in the UK, and they like hunting over tree canopies on the look out for insects.

Here is a more extensive list of the sightings:

  • Goldfinch, greenfinch, redwing, reed bunting, stonechat, long-tailed tit, yellowhammer, fieldfare, blackbird, goldcrest, great spotted woodpecker, water pipit and green woodpecker
  • Golden plover, bittern, woodcock, pink-footed goose, whooper swan, black necked grebe, curlew, great white egret, water rail, goosander, pintail, goldeneye, shelduck and dunlin
  • Sparrow hawk, marsh harrier, little owl, red kite and kestrel
  • Noctule bat

When you’re out and about at Fairburn Ings and St Aidan’s, do let us know what you spot. You can do this by writing in the sightings book in the visitor centres, or by letting us know on social media! Happy spotting!

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