There have been some great sightings so far in November with increasing numbers of Lapwing, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwits, Wigeon and Teal on the ever wettening marsh. Small groups of Redwings and Fieldfares have been seen along with migrant Blackbirds and Song Thrushes down and scoffing berries.
Blackbird - Tom Bell
Curlew - Bernard Bradshaw
Black-tailed Godwit - Ian Plume
Black-tailed Godwits - Joan Chatterley
A Richard's Pipit from a long way to the East was seen on the landfill on Monday and Tuesday and Scandinavian Rock and Water Pipits are now to be found on the foreshore although the latter also like the wet meadows particularly in front of the Butts Hide.
Scandinavian Rock Pipit - Russ Sherriff
Water Pipit - Russ Sherriff
The Short-eared Owl has not been seen since Friday but two Barn Owls have been making unusually early hunting sorties out over the fields while Peregrine, Buzzard, Kestrel and Marsh Harriers have been seen hunting everday.
Barn Owl - Richard Andrew
male Marsh Harrier - Tony O'Brien
Kestrel - Barry Tranfield
male Peregrine - Kay Aldteron
Buzzard - Mark Laffling
Our Sparrowhawks have been terrorising the bird feeders with both immature male and female seen while two different yougn females have been entertaining those patient enough to sit in the photographic hide and hope for them to come down to the reflection pool and have a wash and brush up. The resulting images and videos have been simply superb along with the host of other expected species down there in cluding a fine male Green Woodpecker that has been lured in by the fat logs. Don't forget that you can rent the hide out so please ring 01708 899851 for more details and available dates!
Sparrowhawk - John Humble
Sparrowhawk - Helen Mathias
Sparrowhawk - Paul Richardson
Sparrowhawk - Nick Lay
male Green Woodpecker - John Humble
Blue Tit, Great Tit and male Great Spotted Woodpecker - Paul Richardson
Bearded Tits, Cetti's Warblers and Stonechats are scattered around the trails but the Dartford Warbler has not been seen again but is probably still out there! There are still Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests around and a single Firecrest seen yesteday became three today with two in the woodland and a single near the Serin Mound. I suspect that they are now here for the duration of the winter.
male Bearded Tit - Russ Sherriff
Cetti's Warbler - Russ Sherriff
Stonechat - Steve Knox
Firecrest - Tony O'Brien
Firecrest - Tom Bell
It may have turned colder but there are still invertegrates to be found with a selection of spiders, Red Admirals, Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers still on the wing.
Common Darter - Andy Reid
Red Admiral - Chris Barnes
I can hear fireworks going off outside as I type this with the 'tsiiip' calls of Redwings coming through in the quiet moments between. Migration may not always be visible but is happening right now whether we can see it or not...
5th November 2019
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer