The spectacle of over a thousand barnacle geese has been seen over the reserve, both today and yesterday. At least 300 landed on the reserve at Tindale Tarn yesterday lunchtime. Thousands of these geese were seen on the north-east coast yesterday morning and were then heading over the reserve to the Solway for the winter. A small group of pink-footed geese were seen flying over south west yesterday and today 30 greylag geese flew over.
A single whinchat was still in the meadow by the visitor centre at Stagsike Cottages, this is the latest record for the reserve, but by only one day. The occasional wheatear and chiffchaff have been seen this week, but it wont be long before they have gone. There are still good numbers of meadow pipits and swallows on migration passing the visitor centre as well as the odd grey wagtail and pied wagtail. Two greenfinches heading east on Monday were the first seen here for some time.
Around the trails buzzard, kestrel, mistle thrush, reed bunting, stonechat and dipper are present. There are large flocks of goldfinch (often over 100) with some linnets. Black grouse are becoming more visible and after another good breeding season there should be good numbers and they will be much easier to see when they are feeding on the hawthorn berries over the next few months. A pair of barn owls are on camera in the loft, after an absence of three years, after the cold winters, they have returned to the visitor centre, but have not bred this year.
As well as the usual mute swan, coot and mallard on Tindale Tarn, at the moment there are over 50 lapwings on the shore. This week teal, a couple of wigeon, two male pochard and over 30 tufted duck are there too. Last week a water rail was heard.
A red-throated diver was found on a nearby farm last week and released on Tindale Tarn. Despite quite a head injury the bird seemed fine and spent the day preening and diving in the water. It was not seen the following day, so had presumably headed back (or on) to the coast.
A few dragonflies have been seen recently, common hawker, black darter and common darters, but the ruddy darter dragonfly last week, the first reserve record since 2006.
Over the next few weeks look out for the winter thrushes returning, in the right weather conditions several thousand redwings and fieldfares pass through the reserve on there way south and west. The occasional ring ouzel can be seen at this time.