Waders are being seen more and more frequently now at the reserve as the breeding season is coming to an end. A lot of birds are moving away from their breeding sites and starting to head to different feeding grounds in preparation for their winter migrations. Greenshank, Common and Green Sandpipers and Dunlin are regularly being spotted from various parts of the reserve. Pickup hide, Lin Dike and along the Flashes are all good vantage points for seeing waders and wildfowl. Snipe are also being spotted on a daily basis and you can't help but enjoy the loveable nature of these little dumpy waders.
On Monday a juvenile Marsh Harrier was seen in the North Flashes (I managed to flush it out as we were working) and flew off over towards Spoonbill Flash. Yesterday a Great Spotted Woodpecker was reported in the woods behind the Visitor Centre, and today our favourite, the Kingfisher, was seen at Pickup hide and from the Kingfisher viewing screen. From the Visitor Centre a few of the juvenile passerines can be seen feeding, there were young Bullfinch, Goldfinch and Willow Tit.