Autumn is a great time on the reserve with birds moving through as they head on to their wintering grounds. Sitting on the Manhood Peninsula jutting out into the English Channel, many birds pause here to feed up before taking the next step across the water. Wheatear are best encountered along the shingle beaches and any fence line is worth checking for whinchat.
Whinchat - Ivan Lang
Spotted and pied flycatchers can be found in St Wilfred’s churchyard and Glebe Meadow behind Church Norton hide, along with common redstarts.
Pied flycatcher - Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)
At low tide whimbrel are easier to pick out among the curlew at Church Norton along with dunlin, grey plover and curlew sandpiper.
Whimbrel and curlew - Kevin Harwood (rspb-images.com)
When the tide comes in, osprey hunt the fish swimming up the channels and The Severals is the best place to look for the elusive wryneck.
Wryneck - Ivan Lang
Common sandpipers and greenshank can be picked up along the water’s edge across both reserves, while green and wood sandpipers are most likely to be spotted on Ferry Pool, where you can also see yellow wagtail.
Yellow wagtail - Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
Spotted redshank frequent Ferry Channel and White’s Creek on the North Wall. Also on the North Wall, the Breech Pool is a good place to look for ruff, little stint and other waders. Happy hunting!