Unexpected visitor!

Hello All

A visitor very kindly reported an unexpected visitor of the feathered variety, today in the form of a juvenile cuckoo!! It was sitting on the fence just passed the cattle shed on the meadow, showing very nicely before flying off in to more cover. An very unexpected siting at this time of year.  Maybe the change in weather has forced it to stop off on migration, although it is very late now for a cuckoo to be in the UK and really should be well on his way to Africa. If you have been following the BTO project which has utilised light weight radio tags in order to investigate the routes, stop off points and wintering grounds of the UK breeding cuckoos, you can see that many are already safely in the rain forest of the Congo. A link to the BTO website and project is below.

http://www.bto.org/science/migration/tracking-studies/cuckoo-tracking

It is also nice to have a garganey back on site with one showing from the Gadwall hide today. Despite the change in weather we continue to get good views of water rail from both the Ashby and Gadwall hides. Snipe numbers are increasing on site, 73 so far and a single jack snipe on the meadow. Grey wagtail have been popping up in a number of locations around site and the number of peregine sightings has increased in the last few weeks.  So dont let the weather put you off come over and see us!!

We are still waiting for the first redwing or fieldfare on site for this winter. Maybe this is the week,  now it actually feels like autumn!

Don't forget the Vis Mig event this Sunday 12 October 7 am-11 am

Thanks

Vicky