After nearly two weeks of settled weather and an easterly air flow we have move back once again into the dreary wet westerlies that seem to predominate nowadays. It barely felt like it has got light yesterday with low cloud and constant drizzle but there were still birds to be seen from the warmth of the café with a nice Green Woodpecker on the lawn along with probing Starlings and a brief Redwing while the feeders were alive with Gold and Greenfinches amongst the Sparrows and Collared Doves.
A male Yaffle from a few days ago by Donna Zimmer
Water Rails have been seen on the circuit and I even picked one up in flight over the foreshore reedbed while Snipe were disturbed from the sedges just beyond Purfleet Scrape as the Wardens strimmed an area ready for winter.
Water Rail - Chris Norwood
A Short-eared Owl has been seen each day this week so far but we are not sure if these are just part of the migrant influx and are moving through or whether they are looking to settle for the winter months which would be great. Another winter favourite also came back yesterday with a sighting of both the Ravens. I am looking forward to daily encounters with Kronkers!
There are plenty of Stonechats out on the trails with dapper males and more subtle females and as I type this a Goldcrest is calling just outside the shop door. Amazing to think that this little ball of fluff has probably flown across the North Sea in recent days....
Isn't migration a magical thing?
Stonechat - Bob Bradley
The Kestrels are still showing incredibly well and at least four Marsh Harriers are seemingly going to winter on the marsh which is great news...
Kestrel - Donna Zimmer
22-10-15