The run of good birds migrating through continues this week, but more of that later.
The past few days have been characterised by monsoon style downpours causing a big increase in water levels. We are trying to get the water off the Freshmarsh but we are entering a series of spring high tides, which means water leaves the site less quickly.
Nonetheless there are still plenty of waders across the reserve. On Tuesday there were 26 ruff, 19 knot, 20 ringed plovers, 70 black-tailed godwits, 72 bar-tailed godwits, 10 dunlin, greenshank, green sandpiper and 5+ common sandpipers. On Wednesday and Thursday numbers were much the same, additions included a spotted redshank and a flock of 50 golden plover.
A little gull dropped onto the Freshmarsh briefly on Tuesday as well as 2 pintails that were picked out amongst the teal, gadwalls and shovelers.
Within the reedbed this week the two great white egrets continue to hop between the pools. Spoonbill numbers peaked at 16 and are generally seen first thing in the morning and the evening. The bittern has been seen, as always though it continues to be elusive for most of the visitors.
Thursday morning there was a quartet of wagtails on the Freshmarsh. Pied wagtails are the commonest, but at this time of year we start to see dispersion of other wagtails as they migrate away from their breeding grounds, including yellow wagtail and grey wagtail. However today there was a bonus of a Citrine wagtail. After checking the records, this appears to be only the third record for the reserve. The previous records occurred in September 2012 and May 2008.
Citrine wagtail, Tim Stowe
Another highlight from Thursday for the early morning visitor was an osprey observed successfully fishing for its breakfast over our reedbed. It then headed off inland where it was seen in the pines at Choseley Drying Barns.
Down on our beach encouragingly we have two broods of ringed plovers with chicks. It is once again disappointing to hear that photographers are disturbing these birds. Please keep your distance and if the adults can be heard calling in alarm then step away. You are distressing them.
It is always worth looking at the sea at this time of year, this week there have been several gannets and arctic skuas flying through. One of the arctic skuas even made it onto the Freshmarsh, which resulted in chasing the waders around the place.
As you walk around the fen trail there are flocks of tits moving through the willows in amongst them the soft autumn song of the willow warbler has been heard.