Thursday 17 November 2011

A short post

No pictures I am afraid for a change – we should have had the camera though for the two short-eared owls which over-flew us at 30feet height late this afternoon though when working in Hempholme! A few people have been looking for them unsuccessfully since the weekends’ sightings – but today they initially appeared on the eastern river and then disappeared out of sight beyond Struncheonhill to the west – so whilst they are still there, they are clearly hunting a big area – patience necessary…

The other highlight has been the continued presence of white fronted geese – this time we’ve got the figure up to 53. Yesterday also saw the egyptian goose again – but no ross’ – has it gone on to confuse another reserve! - for the best yet of the geese photos visit Dave’s blog here.

Three pintail were on Watton yesterday, with a couple of barn owls on north scrub, a lot of calling water rail around the wetlands and damp woods, and a pair of kingfishers still in the north marsh area. A nice sighting yesterday was a female blackcap near the back-to-back hides – presumably a wintering continental bird? The curlew roost on Tuesday recorded 125 birds and 115+ yesterday - so still good numbers coming in.


Finally the otter piece scheduled for Monday has I am afraid been put back due to a feature on the red arrows instead! – in all likelihood it may now be after Christmas – but we’ll keep you posted…