Guided Walk - Sunday 17th October

A very similar day to yesterday, a warmer start than expected, but dry and bright after the overnight cloud cleared away. 7 people joined the guided walk led by yours truly this morning. On the main lake it initially looked like a lot of the Coot had gone but they were just a bit more spread out than yesterday. Wigeon and Gadwall numbers were similar to yesterday. As I scanned the island I picked up a Water Rail just off the west end and managed to get it in the scope, but it disappeared around the far side of the island before anyone else could get a look. As we headed along the main path I spotted a Little Grebe close to the shore next a Coot and everyone managed to see it as it bobbed back to the surface having dived for cover. Unusual to see one so close, especially next to the footpath. 3 Common Gulls were loafing about with the more numerous Black-headed Gulls.

Along the Spit we had good views of Gadwall, Shoveler and Teal, along with Grey Herons, Coot and Moorhen. Bullfinch were heard along the Spit. Around the Crescent we caught up with the 3 regular Tufted Ducks on east Fingers. A Kingfisher made a couple of passes but managed to elude the rest of the group. This is a species where it is very useful to know the call as you mostly hear them first before locating and the blue blur as they zoom past low over the water. Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling around the Crescent.

Little of interest at Kramer hide, a Sparrowhawk was spotted flying out over Kingsmead and we stopped to view the Cormorants and Herons roosting in the trees on the far side of Kingsmead.

We walked around to the first small lake on 100 Acre but only had a single Little Grebe for our trouble. A Meadow Pipit passed over north east. A party of Goldfinch were flitting about in the trees by the bridge. A scan of the larger lake produced a group of feeding Pochard in the scope for everyone to see.

The Woodland Walk was quiet again. In fact it was quieting down as it usually does mid morning. As we walked back into the Finger Lakes complex a single female Teal was surprisingly calm as we walked past and the canopy was alive with the calls of Long-tailed Tits. The Rough was very quiet. A stroll back to the Visitor Centre, across the Meadows, produced little else to trouble the scorers.

Earlier, ~30 Redwings passed overhead in 3 groups along with a handful of Fieldfares, mostly heading west. A couple of small groups of Skylarks (3 and 3) passed over early and late on in the morning. I spotted a Muntjac on one of the fingers of west Fingers early on. A flock of ~80 Wood Pigeon were spotted high up heading south.