Hi,
Flowering ivy and the plethora of insects it attracted was a real highlight on the reserve for me this week. One particular ivy covered tree next to the picnic benches in the carpark was a hive of activity with a quick glance on the 3rd October producing 9x Red Admiral, 2x Comma butterflies as well as a plentiful supply of wasps and other flies.
Flowering Ivy was a big hit with the reserve's insects this week.
Last weeks star bird, the Great White Egret, remained on the saltmarsh, showing intermittently throughout the week. This week’s bird highlight was probably a ringtail Hen Harrier, possibly our first wintering bird of the season, observed quartering over the grassland in front of the Ynys Feurig Hide and then the saltmarsh (2nd).
The Great White Egret lengthened its stay on the reserve for another week (Many Thanks to Rhys Thatcher for the photograph).
Woodland birds took advantage of ripened seeds dropping from the trees with a flock of Chaffinch regularly seen feeding on beech mast along the entrance road and Jays collecting acorns from the many oak trees on the reserve. There seems to be a good number of Jays around at present with flocks of 10+ birds seen most days however, a large party of 54, which flew over the Visitor Centre on the 30th, has to be close to a reserve record.
Other interesting sightings this week included, 41x Greylag Geese (Breakwater Hide, 27th), 3x Red Kite (Wetland Trail, regular), Peregrine Falcon (female, Breakwater Hide, 27th), 1x Water Rail (Marian Mawr Hide, 27th), 2x Green Sandpiper (Marian Mawr Hide, 28th), Chiffchaff (still present in mixed flocks) and 1x Fox (Marian Mawr Hide, 28th).
The late blooms of Red Campion can still be seen on the woodland trails.
Finally, two Brent Geese, including a bird that is possibly of the North American race, have recently been reported on the estuary near Ynyslas. There is a chance that they may hang out with the many geese on the reserve, so careful scanning of goose flocks on the saltmarsh may reward you with a sighting of Brent Geese, scarce visitors to this part of the world.
Cheers,
Adam