Hello All
Haven't we been lucky with some glorious autumn weather, sadly it now seems like the tide is turning and the rain is becoming more of a feature.
While working on the Draper clearing the vegetation from the scrape, cutting views into the reedbed and clearing bank side vegetation we have been rewarded with some lovely blue sky days as well as some great wildlife to enjoy as we work. An unusual sighting was of 2 harvest mice (28 Oct) as we raked some cut vegetation. We often find sign of them but rarely see the actual mammal, so lovely to see. On the same day i also had a possible water shrew though only a fleeting glimpse so can't confirm. Meadow pipits are enjoying the work we have done in this area and are dropping in to the scrape regularly and sky lark can be heard passing over. Due to the continued mild weather we are also still getting red admiral, bee and common darter sightings yesterday (6 Nov).
Winter visitors have arrived although i have not caught up with a field fare on site yet, they have been seen and redwing are now regulars (in small numbers) in the hawthorns just beyond the Draper hide. Three gold crest were also active around the visitor center and car park yesterday am.
We were really lucky that after our busy Halloween day with pumpkin carving, bog dipping, fungi forays and lantern making (hope you have looked at the photo gallery on RSPBThreeCounties facebook page) members of the Rye Meads Ringing Group stopped by the visitor center to show us some great birds they had caught on site, snipe and jack snipe! This was a real treat for me as i had never seen jack snipe in the hand before, it is so tiny! What a pair of great birds with their camouflage feathering that has a surprising amount of color in it from rufous on the tail to iridescent green and purple on the darker feathers and the wonderful golden stripes over the head to the long beak of the snipe with that extraordinary ability to bend. Great.
As you will be aware we close the reserve at dusk (earlier than 5pm) as the nights start drawing in. It is great to experience the reserve in this twilight hour and you may see some different sightings. When Debs carried out the closing walk last night she came across a fox and 4 muntjac. There is also the chance of seeing a murmuration of starling congregating on the pylons before dropping in to the reedbed to roost, or yellow hammer and reedbunting perching in the sallow's near the reedbed before they too drop in to roost in the warmth and protection of the reedbed.
So don't let the change in weather and drawing in nights put you off, get out and come see all that Rye Meads has to offer.
Thanks
vicky