Yet again another gloomy and wet day, though this time the precipitation was a fine drizzle as opposed to heavy rain we have experienced over the past few days. As I had to drive to Littlemoor for some logs and coal, on the way back, Ted and I dropped off at Radipole for a walk around the Reserve.
No real highlights, but it was good to revisit the reserve after a long break. So what did we come across, well for starters there was absolutely nothing at the North Hide. So next location was the Buddleia Loop, where I came across at least 5 Chiffchaffs, Cetti's Warblers, a few Goldcrests and lots of squealing from the Water Rails.
On the waterways were plenty of wildfowl, along with 6 gull species.
From the Buddleia Loop we headed up to the visitors centre and came a cross a single Bearded Tit.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
Lots of feeding going with Gadwall and Shoveler along the edge of the reed beds.
This is a drake Shoveler
A few Cormorants out on the island, with at least 1 immature bird.
I couldn't quite get a Great Black-backed Gull in with these 5 species of gull. From left to right and back again, we have 1 then 2 Black-headed Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 4 then 5 Common Gulls, a lone Lesser Black-backed Gull and finally a Mediterranean Gull.
So in this photo we have a Black-headed Gull far left and bottom right, a Herring Gull second from left, 5 Common Gulls and far right a Lesser Black-backed Gull. The Mediterranean Gull was further to the right and out of shot.
An adult Winter Mediterranean Gull.
This on the other hand is a 1st Winter Mediterranean Gull. I used this this website Here to determine the age. Pretty close I would say.
It's the end of October and the Blackberries are still flowering. Somehow I dont think we will see any berries coming from these though.
And a few fungi I need to ID.
And another.
And this one.
And this green lichen was on one of the Sallows. Another one to ID.
Oh my goodness, I wished I had videoed this. Ted was looking into the stream, when all of a sudden.....
Mammals Recorded: Grey Squirrel
Birds Recorded: Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Mallard, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Bearded Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Starling, Chaffinch, Redpoll, Siskin and Goldfinch
Wakeham
Well the moth trap went out last night, and this morning there were just these 3 moths. I'll ID them later.
