It has been another mixed bag weatherwise for the past week but the windy and damp westerlies are hanging on in there and my hopes of a cold snap are fading! Not much has changed with duck and wader numbers but we have had a couple of nice afternoons and the Short-eared Owls have been stunning.
The end of the river wall is still the best spot but we did have one hunting the centre end and perimeter ditch before weaving in and out of the bird feeders and almost coming into the picnic area! Magic...
Alan Shearman
Tony O'Brien
and a video from Barry Jones...
Dartford Warblers have been seen an heard at both end of the Northern Trail (including the male bird today) and a juvenile Iceland Gull was seen yesterday up on the landfill site. I hope to catch up with this in the coming days.
The Marsh Harriers continue to quarter the marsh and the Peregrine has been spooking the duck while there have been no further signs of the male Merlin that was seen a couple of times last week. At least one of the tame Kestrels is still to be found along the wall.
Jean Bufton
I have started putting apples out again on the fenceline as at least one female Blackcap appears to be back around the centre for the winter while a Long-tailed tit flock in the Cordite also contained a male Blackcap, Chiffchaff and two Goldcrests. The Bullfinches are still present but remain as elusive as ever.
Long-tailed Tit - Mark Vale
Look forward to seeing some of you at the Christmas Fair here on Sunday from 4pm!
8-12-15