What a glorious autumnal day on the reserve today. It stayed dry with some long sunny periods (yes, indeed!); though a bit windy in the morning, the afternoon turned out calm. Lots of the usual birds around, looking bright and colourful in winter plumage, with large numbers of teal and widgeon on the Carden flood, along with 80 odd lapwings and 20 whooper swans (its always worthwhile stopping and having a closer look at a lapwing; what a glorious bird it is). A black-tailed godwit meandered amongst the teal and widgeon for most of the day. On the loch were the usual suspects, though none the less rewarding for all that; mallard, gadwall, pochard, goldeneye and tufted ducks. A couple of male and half a dozen female goosanders cruised back and forth just offshore during the afternoon. A flock of greylag geese remained on the reserve all day, with small flocks of pink-footed geese dropping in occasionally. The Gilman hide gave some good views of two roe deer grazing in the afternoon sun. All in all, a grand day for watching wildlife.
Recent sightings on the reserve include white-tailed sea eagle, red-breasted merganser, hen harrier, peregrine falcon, brambling, goldcrest, and redwing. Waxwings almost made it, being seen just a few hundred yards from the edge of the reserve. Maybe tomorrow!
Ken
We're just back in from an dusk goosewatch where we were lucky enough to see a short eared owl flying low over the wetland, my first ever!