There was a really good turnout for the guided walk with 11 people joining me this morning. We started off by heading across to the Rough where EG was ringing. Having left him a few minutes earlier I knew he had a good catch and would most likely still have some left to show the group. He had a Bullfinch in hand when we arrived and having processed that he let it go along with 2 others processed earlier as they were a probable family group. Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Dunnock followed and then it was off to check the nets again. Ed explained how the birds are caught using a bag as the bird and then we left him to it as he extracted the next batch of birds.
Our next stop was the Spit where a Wigeon and 2 Gadwall were seen along with the resident Mallards, Coots, Moorhens and Mute Swans.
Then we made our way along the Navigation Channel, stopping briefly at Kramer hide, before moving on to view the Cormorant roost on Kingsmead. There were a number of Cormorants on roost including both adults and juveniles but we were distracted, firstly by the squawking of a Jay in the woods and then by a Common Buzzard, drifting over the woods being harassed by a couple of Crows.
We continued along the Navigation Channel across the bridge to the STW entrance to have a look out over 100 Acre. I spotted some Pochard on the big lake so moved further along the cycle track to get a better view. The Pochard were with a few Tufted Ducks (30/11). A Kestrel flew past as we watched the ducks.
Back to the park we cut along the Woodland Walk and back into the Finger Lakes but things had gone a little quiet so we stopped back in at the Rough where EG was processing yet another batch of birds. Most of this batch were re-traps including Great Tit and Dunnock but yet another new Blackcap was ringed. We finished off the morning with a Wren before leaving EG to it and heading back to the Visitor Centre.
Many thanks to all who joined me for the walk this morning, hope to see you on the next one. Join us on the 23rd October at 9am.
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