It's that time of year when the summer migrant arrivals are still a way off, and yet the birds that came to see out the winter have disappeared. We put a couple of nets up for any roosting Reed Bunting that might be around and captured 5 new birds, all hatched last year. There was also a recapture of one and a Cetti's Warbler.
While there, we also heard two very close Water Rail, saw a female Marsh Harrier emerge from the reed bed while birds were also seen overhead and saw a Goshawk take a Woodpigeon. There had been a couple of occasions when pigeons were disturbed from the trees and a hunting Goshawk was apparently the reason for their nervous behaviour.
It had been a busy day on the reserve with a couple of Tundra Bean Geese and a Pink-footed Goose showing on the scrape. However, by 6pm there were no visitors left to witness the Goshawk kill.
Total: 5 (2)
Cetti's Warbler - 0 (1)
Reed Bunting - 5 (1)