Well, not quite yet - it is still warm and sunny out there - but the birds know what's coming and we have started to see the welcome return of some winter visitors this week here at Langford. Our Conservation Officer, Carl has been out and about seeing his first redwings of the winter overhead last weekend, siskin and lesser redpoll continue to make an appearance and the first flocks of golden plover have been seen in the skies above the reserve.
It is that time of year too when wildfowl look their best, in fresh plumage after their moult. Winter visitors are starting to trickle in, with the first wigeon now on site and building numbers of teal, pochard and shoveler. The first pintail have also been recorded (also by Carl) at the weekend, with 3 birds present.
Peregrine is a species that can appear at any time of year at Langford, but is most often present in the winter months. A beautiful large female was over Phase 2 last week - a stunning bird and well worth looking out for. Another species that is easier to see in the winter is bittern, especially if we get very cold weather and they seek out unfrozen stretches of water to feed in. Our Monday morning Beach Hut volunteer, Neil was treated to an excellent view of one of the birds on Phase 1 from the visitor trails last week - another one to keep an eye open for!
Over the next few weeks we should see the first fieldfares coming through, whooper swans, duck numbers building, flocks of finches and buntings at the feeders and in the wild bird seed crop by the car park and maybe even the return of the elusive tree sparrow!
Redwing. Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com)