Movers

Following on from last Saturday, this afternoon was another great day out on the reserve. During this time of year, there is lots of change with birds as summer migrants leave and winter visitors start to arrive. So no hirundines (swallows and martins) seen today as they’ve left Nottinghamshire now, except for a few late stragglers.

Say Hello

Winter visitors are slowly moving in and species seen this afternoon were:

Redwing – a flock of 24 flew west over the silt lagoons at 5pm, the first I’ve seen this autumn

Siskin – just a single flew south over the silt lagoons, calling

Lesser redpoll – a total of 12 (flock of 10 and two singles) flew south, calling, over the silt lagoons

Jay – 4 over silt lagoons. Possibly passage birds as large numbers have been seen arriving on the North Norfolk coast

Grey wagtail – tends to be seen more often during autumn and winter at Langford

Wave Goodbye

Most summer migrants have left now but some species still moving through:

Wheatear – one on Phase 2

Chiffchaff – 2+ in the wood

Greenshank – a single bird was heard calling loudly as it flew south and then came in and landed on Phase 2

Other bird species seen were:

Green sandpiper – 3 on Phase 3

Common snipe – 12 on phases 2 and 3

Water rail – 2 calling from silt lagoons at dusk

Kingfisher – 2 on Phase 2

Little egret – 3 on Phases 2 and 3

Buzzard – one over wood

Sparrowhawk – male over silt lagoons

Cetti’s warbler – 2 singing silt lagoons

Goldcrest – 3+ in wood with long-tailed tit flock

Coal tit – one in wood with tit flock

Other wildlife seen included a roe deer, a fox, several frogs, a small tortoiseshell, and several migrant hawkers and common darters still active.