Another windy day on site with some heavy rain showers seemed the perfect day to catch up with paper work. Normally I would look for any legitimate excuse to avoid spending the day in front of the computer screen but a combination of deadlines that can't be ignored and the fact that it is mid November, cold and wet did make the computer argument quite compelling.
However the best laid plans of mice and men as they say and before long I was trotting over to the centre to watch the great white egret that decided to re-appear in the corner of the pools, almost certainly this is the same individual as was seen on Friday but where it has been in the meantime is a mystery. Thats said within a few minutes the bird dissappeared yet again. Prior to 2008 there had only been three records of this large white heron on the reserve, last year we had two individuals on site at the same time and this year we have had a further three individuals - is this pattern going to be repeated in future years. It is the rarety most likely not to be found by reserve staff - off the last five records only one has been found by the team here!
All we need now is for a cattle egret to appear!
In addition to the egret there has been a bit of a white theme today with a snow goose on the low ground and long tailed duck (well they are a dirty white!) on the pools in front of the centre.
Dom