Had a brief walk around the heathland restoration area early this morning. Not much of note on the heath itself, but a clear(ish) sky meant there were plenty birds moving above it- about 200 wood piegons flew south, and several flocks of fieldfares and redwings flew west or dropped into the black wood, and a few skylarks and redpolls were noted going in various directions.
The brooks are now looking very good - lots of lapwings, wigeon, teal, pintail, shoveler, mallard, canada and greylag geese all over the site, with about 50 black-tailed godwits on the north brooks this morning. Gadwall, golden plover, dunlin, curlew and green sandpiper have all been noted in ones or twos this week.
The usual raptors (kestrel, peregrine and buzzard) were all present and correct today, plus red kite, marsh harrier and raven also noted by visitors. The marsh harrier in particular was very obliging and seen at various points around the site during the day and is the same bird that has been seen over previous weeks.