Trip today resulted in 5 Year Ticks!
HEN HARRIER (M) - at least one (possibly two) hunting over saltmarsh. Same or second bird relocated circa 16:35 just east of main hedgerow.
MARSH HARRIER - one hunting over saltmarsh.
MERLIN - one on posts on saltmarsh.
PINK-FOOTED GOOSE - 6 feeding on wet grassland.
BARN OWL
- one hunting in dykes between reserve and Greenwich meridian circa 16:50. WOOHOO! Year List up to 70.
Also seen:
Starling - an enormous murmuration of at least 3000 birds on grassland between 360 Hide and bank.
Golden Plover - possibly as many as 5000 birds on 360 wader scrape giving eye-wateringly good displays at times.
Curlew - 10 or so.
Redshank - at least 20 on the reserve,
Little Grebe - 3
Usual wildfowl - inc. 6 sub-adult Mute Swans in a group on Reedbed scrape. Teal, colossal numbers of Wigeon, Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler etc.
Unusual Wildfowl - 1 female Australian Wood Duck on 360 Scrape.
Possible Corn Bunting near bird feeders just before 16:45.
Sparrowhawk seen in flight clutching prey on journey there.
Kestrel seen hunting in Twilight on journey home.
Seen by others - female Peregrine on wet grassland.
Rumours of first-returning Avocet too.