Welcome back to the new Community Page!
After an incredibly mild period, it finally looks as though winter may be approaching at last, with cold easterlies on the way next week. The mild weather has meant a quiet time for birds on the reserve, the siskins, crossbills and bramblings from a few weeks ago seem to have moved on, but more migrant birds should be coming this way if the winds do come from the east.
As a taster to this, the first woodcock of the season was flushed by Alan our warden as he was out working on the heath today. A pair of ravens have been very active and vocal on a daily basis, which, as an early breeder, shows signs they are possibly looking for nesting places on the reserve for early 2019?
On Sandy Heath (opposite the reserve entrance) four or five stonechats seem to have taken up residence, while a few reed buntings, linnets and yellowhammers are starting to form a larger flock as they discover the mixed seed crop on offer on the fields here.
I'll leave you with some images taken today by regular Lodge photographer Ray Piercy.