Recent sightings 4 October 2016

With another lovely October day and the work parties first bonfire of the season today we are all feeling quite autumnal. The reserve and it inhabitants are also feeling the change with cooler nights and a few misty mornings followed by bright blue sky and sun. The hawthorn berries are putting on a good show and fungi are appearing.

Bittern flying copyright TheBeardedTit@GrahamC57

Our recent sightings have also had an autumnal feel. Firstly we are getting some regular sightings of the bittern although released on site (18/9) after injury and a bit of care it is definitely a winter bird for us. She has been showing well (for a bittern!) as these 3 great shots, taken yesterday at the Ashby hide by TheBeardedTit@GrahamC57 can attest. Recent sightings of the bittern 19/9 on the path, 23/9, 1/10 & 3/10 (seen twice) at Ashby. A female wheatear has been on the Draper scrape since 28/9, but can be tricky to pick up in the taller vegetation, similarly a pair of stonechat that have been on the meadow since 24/9 but not always visible. A Jack snipe was flushed from the meadow on 30/9 by one of the volunteer cattle checkers, tricky to see on the meadow but nice to know they are about. Water rail, snipe, green sandpiper and grey wagtail have all been showing very well and often at the Gadwall hide and Draper hide and lapwing numbers are building up. And in non avian sightings grass snake and water vole 25/9.

Kingfisher picture copyright Katy Smith

Little grebe picture copyright Katy Smith