Reed Bunting, taken by Bill Reid
Sixty three visits were made and forty nine species were recorded in the pools complex during the period September 1st to December 27th.
Pride of place was a Cetti’s Warbler seen briefly on 13th October- a site record. Other highlights include two Stonechats on October 15th and seven Fieldfare on November 24th. A Peregrine Falcon used the pylon at the pools end as a hunting site.A Water Rail was heard calling on December 15th.
The first Black-headed gull was back on September 20th and up to the end of
the period there were a maximum of eighty birds. One or two Kingfishers were seen but were scarce during the period. Coot and Moorhen numbers were constant with seven of the former and fifteen of the latter. Mallards and the Mute Swan pair were resident. The last Reed Warbler was seen on September 11th and on the 19th there was a Sedge Warbler.
A number of Swallows flew over in September. Up to two Reed Buntings were present but as usual were elusive. Up to two Goldcrests were in the scrub at the pools end.
Photos kindly supplied by Bill Reid.