Kirkby on Bain 17th October 2009

Not a lot around today.  The usual suspects, but although there was a stiff northerly wind blowing, it wasn't carrying any interesting birds my way!  Some other birders at the reserve agreed - the birds just aren't around today.

The usual birds included about 20 mallard, and along with most of the other wildfowl these had more or less finished their moult and were looking quite stunning.  Definitely dressed to impress!

There were also the following:  about 200 teal, 1 shoveler, about a dozen gadwall - photo below.  Several skeins of greylags flying around.  Moorhens, coots, two pied wagtails, four widgeon, about 6 little grebes and three great crested grebes looked like late juveniles.  Buzzard over the woods, jay, kingfisher, 2 magpies.

So, not much going on but still some to watch.