Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Winter draw(er)s on!

Wed 24th
Lone male Pochard on main lake. Winter cometh.
Thurs 25th
A Little Egret remained on the roost tree in Fingers "all day" along with a Grey Heron.
With the nets up for 4 hours middle of the day, a mixture of 25 common birds. A female Blackcap (possibly the one spotted by DK last Thurs) was the highlight. Not to be frowned upon were 4 Bullfinch and 2 continental looking Blackbirds, the ones with the small white crescents all over their chests. A second Treecreeper for the month, too.
Fri 26th
Mid morning visit produced a few more signs of late autumn. On the main lake - 14 Cormorant & 33 Gt. Crested Grebe, also 14 of 20 Shoveler. There was a good mix of gulls with 4 species present. On Fingers, 6 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, 3 Teal and at least 18 Moorhen, 15 of which were in front of the Kramer hide. 2 Little Grebe were being elusive. 2 Goldcrest on the spit & 2 elsewhere.
Sat 27th
Cormorant numbers move up to 17, grebes down to 30. (Don't rely on these counts)
A very vocal Chiff on the crescent was the first for a week or so. It seemed to be intent on staying a while. Another, less vocal and more mobile, was at the foot of the slalom and moved off towards Cardington Mill.
Sun 28th
Will it rain, will it rain? Guided walk on or off?