The sightings of passage waders are dwindling fast now although we still have up to 10 Black-tailed Godwits and 7 Ruff about. The excitement now is over the incoming wintering birds such as the 660 Wigeon, 16 Pintail, 3 Goldeneye and 400 Golden Plover. Up to 7 Whooper Swans have gone through along with 60 Redwing and 8 Fieldfare. On Monday, we had our first Short-eared Owl of the year, and Elly did well to grab this photograph with her phone from the truck as she prepared to move the sheep.
Gloria Smew (someone had to) and the 3 Great White Egrets are still here. Saturday caused a bit of a stir with a Bearded Tit in the reeds at the back of Bottom Tank. It wasn't seen on Sunday, but was seen again flying west on Monday.
I was taken by surprise while cleaning out the Mouse House on Wednesday, when a Common Shrew came in and started to try and open the drawers and cupboards. After a while I placed some peanuts on the floor, thinking this well known insectivore couldn't possibly be after them, but it toddled over and managed to get one in its small mouth before scarpering out. So there you go...........Shrews eat peanuts !