My third visit to Radipole this year, which to be honest was a bit disappointing. Though not over the paths it was noticeable that the water levels were very high and with the wind picking up there just seemed to be a dearth of birds. Maybe they've sensed that a storm is approaching.
No real highlights other than a few fleeting calls from just 3 small flocks of Bearded Tits. Around the reserve were a few male Reed Buntings singing and it was good to see & hear a few Greenfinches wheezing from the hedgerow close to the North Hide.
Along the Buddleia loop there was lone Chiffchaff and out in the open water a Great Crested Grebe and its mate. There were a few people along the loop hoping to see the Penduline Tits, but sadly they were proving hard to find.
By the Centre were the usual Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls, plus a couple of Mediterranean Gulls and Common Gulls.
Here are a few images from today:
The staff on the reserve have been busy clearing a few areas around the North Hide.
A pair of Gadwall
Two male Pochard. The bird on the right has been diving deep into the "mud".
A Common Gull in flight, a Black-headed Gull on the water, and a Shelduck dwarfing its cousin the Teal.
Plenty of Robins around the reserve.
Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna) is just beginning to flower along the pathways.
A Violet, though as to which one I'm not sure. But there were quite a few beginning to flower.
Mammals Recorded: Brown Rats
Birds Recorded: Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, 2 Canada Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, 1 Sparrowhawk, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, Bearded Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Reed Bunting