November Bits and Bobs

About 4000 Black-headed Gulls today, a big influx. Can you spot the adult Mediterranean Gull in this pic?

Also been a bit of influx of Pied Wagtails- 30+ on site. This individual is a first winter- note the contrast between the outer greyish fringed greater coverts and the inner white fringed feathers. 

This birds looks like an alba (White Wagtail), especially considering the greater coverts appearing uniform white-fringed, suggesting an adult.  Maybe the outer most greater covert is fringed grey. Also looks like the black goes well up the rump and also the grey around the wing bend on the breast sides is extensive, despite the limited grey on the flanks. Yarrellii/alba are known to inter-breed over a relatively wide area and autumn birds and young birds are particularly difficult. Presumably all the ones here are variants of yarrellii.   

The extent of grey on the flanks is much more extensive on this individual. 

Frankie showed me this today by opening up a Teasle- not sure of the species yet. Ok Frankie's come in with four possible ids for these Endothenia marginana, E, gentianaena or Blastobasis adustella or B.lacticolella

Syrphus sp. One of the last remaining hoverflies around.

Very few insects visible at the moment especially in the cool windy conditions. We found this ichneumon sheltering in some emerging Winter Cress.

There's been a bit of habitat management over the last few weeks including the ploughing and sowing of a strip along the Southern Lake

The alternating water levels have inadvertently created some nice marshy areas which have been attracting Jack Snipe. The mix of inadvertent re-wilding and planned habitat management (and failed plans) certainly creates plenty of surprises and unpredictable opportunities at the farmlands.

The Southern Mound has been mowed in certain areas with others areas left ruderal to generate a mix of short grass, various stage ruderal, ploughed areas and newly planted scrub. Another success for the bird group in influencing the management regime.

Following our winter work of clearing willow around the lakes, some of the areas of stacked brushwood have rooted and re-sprouted. The felled willow (stumps) have also come back stronger than before. One of the areas that we didn't have success was influencing the decision to remove stumps and chip willow brush. They only make it worse it for themselves by not listening to the locals :-)