Friday 10th October 2014

There is definitely a winter nip in the air now, but some autumn passage waders are still around, most noticeably the Pectoral Sandpiper which can still be seen from the Saltholme Hide. Little Stints can be seen from both Saltholme Hide and Phil Stead Hide and there are 6o Black Tailed Godwits and 500 Golden Plover on the Causeway across Saltholme West Pool. Dorman's Pool also remains good for waders with 300 Dunlin and 200 Redshank. All these waders are preventing us from raising the water levels for winter wildfowl, however we already have in excess of 300 Wigeon, some of which can be seen grazing from the Visitor Centre Café. Up to 10 Pintail can also be seen from Saltholme Hide. Other regulars include Marsh Harriers which are seen daily, with a female roosting in the Haverton reedbeds, and a stonechat has taken up residence on hawthorn bushes on the Wild Flower Walk. Oddities this week have included Jays which have come in from Europe and several Buzzards. Our knowledge of Harvest Mice in the reserve continues to grow, with 4 nests found on the Wild Flower Walk yesterday. There's a challenge for photographers !