Today on the reserve 12/3/14

Another beautiful day - lots of visitors enjoying the sunshine. First stop a look over the meadow gave Little Egret, Shoveler Teal and Gadwall, Blacked headed gull and Lapwing, Heron . Draper Hide, a lovely pair of Oystercatcher feeding on the scrape,, Little grebe, Tufted Duck, Gadwall and Teal,Jay. Two Stock Dove also checking out the owl boxes. On the trails, Dunnock, Wren, Blue tit, Great tit, Long tailed tit,Chiffchaff spotted, have heard a few recently but this was the first seen, over lagoon two a couple of Buzzards were circling then joined by a third, by the time they were over the visitor centre there were eight, a Kingfisher was perched in the cut through the reeds just past the Ashby Hide. Gadwall Hide- Snipe and a Redshank feeding around the reedy islands, Lapwing still good numbers, Starling,Swan,Teal,Gadwall,Cormorant Shelduck,Black headed gull, Lesser Black backed gull, Canada goose, Kestrel.Cettis Warbler heard and eventually briefly seen flying along the reeds/brambles to the left of the hide. Over at the Kingfisher hide, both male and female seen mating and visiting the bank both around for long periods of time, also Female Kestrel in the top nest box on the pylon, until spooked by a Red Kite flying over, also Great spotted Woodpecker and Goldfinch. Butterflies seen Small Tortoishell and Peacock.