About 2500 starlings put on a magnificent display for half an hour this evening. This is not a large number in comparison with the better known roost sites, but we get them passing a few meters from Reedbed Hide before they swarm down into the reeds by the mere about 30m from the hide. Only one sparrowhawk was seen, but if the starlings settle in we should see more.
One of the regular birders heard a bearded tit pinging quietly in the reeds just outside the hide at dusk, presumably where it was going to roost. This is good going, since c700 jackdaws were passing noisily over at the time, on their way to the poplar plantation between the reserve and the village.
The other sounds came from a fallow buck rutting somewhere in the middle of the reserve. The deep grunting call can sound rather sinister until you know what it is, but don't be tempted to try for a closer look - you might be mistaken for a rival!