You can really feel the changes of the seasons on the reserve, and the change into Autumn is one of the most obvious and beautiful. It's also the time when we'll get interesting sightings of birds on their migration down to warmer climes...and me wishing I could go with them! Keep an eye out and let us know what you see, we'll add it to the recent sightings board in the visitor centre and on here.
The last few days have seen quite a few redpoll, siskin (5 were seen yesterday), and swifts near the flashes, as well as not one but two of my favourite birds...ruffs! I just love the patterning on their back and wings and their elegant shape. Also, did you know that the word 'poll' is an old word for head? So the redpoll is named so because of it's very distinctive red spot on its head...a good way to remember for us newbie birdwatchers.
Sparrowhawks, buzzards, and kestrels have been spotted all over the reserve and kingfishers spotted both at the Kingfisher Screen on 22 September and from Village Bay Hide yesterday. Surprisingly there are loads of dragonflies around the Discovery Trail still. Butterflies are also still around but not nearly as many as we've been getting used to over the summer months, with meadow brown, common blue, green veined white, small copper, red admiral's having been spotted in the last 3 days.
Yesterday there were reports of red crested pochard from Village Bay Hide as well as 3 field fare in the field opposite the visitor centre. We're sure there's more about so let us know what you see!
More like high summer today when we visited,very little unusual birdwise but a great day meeting the usual friendly regulars.