The westerlies have not abated and the temperature has started to drop and with it has come the much needed rain. The scrapes have been topping up quickly and the wintering Wigeon numbers have slowly increased to get above the 200 mark for the first time.
Wigeon dreading - Mark Vale
The strong wind has kept most of the small birds low and the Dartford Warblers have unsurprisingly not been seen since last Wednesday. However, the regular suspects have all been seen with some now, very smart Stonechats...
Stonechat - Russ Sherriff
Stonechat - Joanne Josephine
Flocks of Greenfinch, Linnets and Goldfinches are still roving around and our ears and eyes are peeled after a Serin was seen at Beddington in South London last week. It would be nice to have them back again.
Interestingly, most of the finches have been feeding on the ground out of the breeze. I presume the more stable conditions give them better predator escape options rather than spending valuable thinking time just trying to stay upright on a bendy piece of blowing Dock.
Goldfinch - Joanne Josephine
Meadow Pipits are still perching up though and those interlocking long claws have them swinging on the wire fence! Both Scandinavian Rock and dapper Water Pipits continue to be seen on the scrapes and are probably affording the best ever views of these two similar species.
Meadow Pipit - Lawrence Rogers
Meadow Pipit - Basil Thornton
Undoubtedly the best ever shot of a Water Pipit on the reserve - Russell Sherriff
Starlings have been foraging out on the marsh in the wetter conditions and a bit of wind and rain never seems to stop them from fun day out probing for worms!
Starlings - Joan Burton
Predator wise it is still mostly all about Marsh Harriers and Kestrels with multiples of both species to be seen each day. The poorly Kestrel from last week is still in care and will need more time to hopefully recover but there are several others still showing well.
Peregrines have made the odd sortie or two and the female Sparrowhawk is back to terrorizing the feeders...
Sparrowhawk - Denis Tuck
Kestrel - Joan Burton
There are still one or two Short-eared Owls around and Mark Wilmore got this great shot... I imagine that they are suffering with the poor weather at the moment.
It is meant to get colder at the weekend but I am still waiting for that wind direction to swing east and for the real winter spectacular to begin....
19-11-15