We've had more than our fair share of rain in the last week. I can't believe that the last time I was writing this we had scorching temperatures, I had to get my shorts back out! Now I am sat trying to keep warm in our office with my fleece on, admittedly it isn't freezing, but there is a much more autumnal feel to the place this week.
So, what impact has the change in weather had on the wildlife at Fairburn Ings? Well, the geese are all on the move at the moment, we have regular flocks flying over the visitor centre, but they tend to be our resident canada geese and greylag geese, rather than the migrant geese. We still have a few swallows hanging around before their long migration as well, with 2 seen at Pickup today.
We're getting regular sightings of ruff, dunlin greenshank, redshank and large numbers of lapwing at Lin Dike, on Saturday we had wheatear, 30 redwing, 3 crossbill, 12 bullfinch and a redbill were seen from Lin Dike. Elsewhere we've had snipe, teal, golden plover and water rail at Pickup. Shoveller and tufted ducks on Main Bay, the feeders around the visitor centre and at Pickup hide are always busy with small birds, including goldfinch, treesparrows, great tits, blue tits, willow tits and reed bunting. Kingfishers have been seen at the screen on a number of occasions, as well as at Bob Dickens hide and Pickup.
There have been quite a few sightings of buzzards, kestrels, sparrowhawks and red kites over the visitor centre, with peregrine and marsh harriers seen at Lin Dike. We've also had mistle thrush at the visitor centre, goldcrest on the boardwalk, a smooth newt at the kingfisher screen, jays near Pickup, chiff chaffs and a weasel at Lin Dike and little egret, pochard, green woodpecker and 3 roe deer.