Many of the dabbling ducks are well on their way out of eclipse pluamge now and some of the Shovelers and Mallard are starting to look particulalrly smart! Basil caught up with this small group of the former on Thursday.
Others are still largely garbed in in brown hues but the male Wigeon are slowly losing their russet plumage and a few Teal are starting to aquire red, green and gold heads.
Elsewhere on the reserve today there were several sightings of Marsh Harrier and Peregrine and two Barn Owls entertained on an off in the woodland much to the delight of the Kids Birdwatching Club. Thirty Golden Plover were new in and Redshank, five Greenshank, Snipe, our late Little Ringed Plover and 25 Black-tailed Godwits kept wader watchers happy. A pair of Bearded Tits were once again seen by the Dragonfly Pool.
13-10-12
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer