October 2007 Bird Report

A real change in conditions, and birds, this month as the summer like weather has given way to frosty and foggy mornings and autumn colours predominate.

Canada Geese numbers seem to have stabilised, but a new site record of 108 Egyptian Geese was set on 23rd. The remnant flock of Snow Geese is now up to 3. 

Up to 161 Coot present, Teal numbers seem to be stable and Shoveler are down to less than 10; Wigeon were up to 201 by the end of the month and Pochard up to 44.  On the 19th a Pochard wearing a numbered blue plastic clip on its bill was seen; this is a means of monitoring the movements of birds. This particular bird was tagged in France, at Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu on the 15 May 2007 where it was nesting. Strange that it has moved north for the winter. The earliest ever return date for Goosanders was achieved with 7 (6 females) on the 29th.

Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk have been seen regularly, but no Hobby that I am aware of. Little Owls are regularly seen, but I have not seen a Barn Owl since the 2nd. You are more likely to see a Buzzard perching on the top of the owl box on the workings.

A Water Rail was showing well in front of Colebrook Hide on the 26th. Lapwing numbers have been variable up to 400 and briefly accompanied by 2 Golden Plover on 25th and 15 on 27th. Up to 4 Green Sandpipers were present all month; a Redshank was present on 3rd.  Snipe were seen throughout the month but seem to have moved into the lakeside vegetation lately. A Jack Snipe was seen on the new workings on the 27th, making it the 24th wader species this year.

The number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the roost reached 700, with 7 Yellow-legged Gulls. A Greater Black-backed Gull was present on 26th. A few Herring Gulls and Common Gulls are often around in the afternoon gatherings on the diggings.

Swallows and House Martins were still passing through in the first few days of the month. A couple of pairs of Stonechat have arrived for the winter. Meadow Pipits are present, modest numbers of Fieldfairs and Redwings are also present; 60 Siskins were seen on 27th. 2 Brambling were on ground feeder on the 20th. Goldcrests have moved from the local pine woods to the scrub around the Reserve. A Coal Tit was on the peanut feeder in the car park on the 28th.

Bruce Archer