The Juvenile Spoonbill and Ruddy Shelduck continue to frequent the Reserve through the period although both continue to be rather elusive.
As October draws to a close the last trickle of migrants filter through the reserve with Swallows, Wheatear and Chiffchaff still present through the period. The season has changed and the Reserve is starting to fill up with some of our winter regulars with flocks of Wigeon, Brent Geese and Pintail all becoming more frequent out in the harbour.
Brent Goose
In the bushes the winter flocks of small birds are starting to appear with Linnet, a few Siskin, Goldcrest and Long-Tailed Tits. If you are lucky you may find a Black Redstart or Dartford Warbler both reported recently and even rarer, for the Reserve, a Marsh Tit. The first winter raptors have appeared with a couple of Short-eared Owl and Merlin.
Goldcrest
Black Redstart
Short-Eared Owl
Things are starting to move out at sea with Arctic Skua, Common Scoter, Gannet and Red Breasted Merganser all moving along the coast.
But summer is not quite at an end with a number of butterflies still on the wing with Red Admiral, Brimstone and Clouded Yellow still on the wing.
The Warden, RSPB Crook of Baldoon