Hi folks
Despite many of our breeding waders having departed us, we've had some great sightings on the reserve over the last couple of weeks including several juvenile marsh harriers hunting around the scapes. There are some nice small flocks of passerines such as linnets and redpoll feeding on the seeding grasses. Whinchats, stonechats, wheaters and ring ouzels are all still present.
An osprey has been visiting the tarn fairly regularly and one or two hobbies have turned up stalking the swallows and martins. Merlins appear to be on the move leaving the moorland tops and becoming more visible on the trails around the in-bye farmland.
The visitor centre barn owl is now on her second brood and can be viewed via the infra-red camera. In the evenings two juvenile barn owls and the adult male are busy hunting over Stagsike Meadow along with the occasional short eared owl.
Last week an otter was seen from the tarn screen and today a possible water vole.