What to look for in OCTOBER
This
can be a stormy month and it may be good time to look along the shore for
unfortunate marine life washed up: seaweed, starfish, sea mouse, crabs and much
more.
Along
the Beach Reserve there are large flocks of seed eating birds feeding on the
seeds of plants such as Yellow-horned
Poppy, Sea Pea and Sea Kale.
These flocks are mostly of Linnets
or Greenfinches with smaller numbers
of Goldfinch, Meadow Pipits and Reed
Buntings.
Most
summer migrants have left by mid month, but usually a few Swallows, House Martins and Wheatears
linger on and this is the best month to see Ring Ouzel. Other migrant passerines passing through may include Firecrest, Black Redstart and quite possibly the odd rarity such as Yellow-browed Warbler.
Winter
visitors arriving may include Short-eared
Owls, Hen Harrier, Merlin and Jack
Snipe. Stonechats will also be
passing through, with others settling down to winter. Rock Pipits will
be present around the saltmarsh and river mouth, whilst Brent Geese will be passing by offshore. Duck numbers will continue to increase on the shingle pits,
with a variety of species including Wigeon,
Shoveler, Teal and Gadwall. This is often the best month to look
for the Bearded Tit in reedbeds at Castle
Water .
If the
weather has remained mild there may still be a few insects on the wing. Red
Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell
may be the most frequently encountered butterflies whereas Migrant Hawkers and Common
Darters will be the only dragonflies likely to be seen.
