After a gorgeous sunny late autumn day on Saturday, we've had three days of typical wet, windy November weather. It hasn't put all our visitors off though, and our lovely volunteer guides are coming in to help you to spot some of the wildlife on offer.
And some of that wildlife has been pretty spectacular. Take this morning, for example, when a marauding peregrine caused chaos on the Scrape, putting 200 lapwings and hundreds of teals, wigeons, gadwalls, shovelers and mallards into the air in a swirling mass of panic-stricken wings.
Rather less dramatic, but certainly more surprising, is the swallow that was still swooping over the car park today, catching any remaining flying insects. It's certainly the latest departing swallow that I've ever seen, though December records are not unknown in the UK. It had better hurry up and fly south though, before the colder weather arrives.
Meanwhile, at Island Mere our bitterns have been tearing up the rule book once again by parading within just a few metres of the hide for hours on end. One bittern, nicknamed Limpy, is limping, but seems to be fishing very effectively, as can be seen from Whistling Joe's forum post. Up to three bitterns have been feeding close to the hide, as have two water rails, while marsh harriers, bearded tits, stonechats and otters are also regular there.
If the wet, windy weather doesn't entice you for a walk, then why not just pop along to sample the delicious food in the cafe, or stock up on a few Christmas goodies in the shop. You can easily spend a few metres watching the tits and finches on the feeders, too.
Bitterns don't come much closer than this - photo by Jon Evans