Green Winged Teal and Shorties

Birds of the last couple of days have been dominated by a Green Winged Teal and Short Eared Owls.   Steve Fisher found a Green Winged Teal on the roadside lake at Stanwick GP during his daily early morning visit and the bird was still present today. Other birds at the site include Ruff, Redshank and Goosanders.                                                 There are still two Short Eared Owls present at Blueberry area which I bump into during my regular visits.  I can still hear the small mammals squeaking which is obviously why they are in the area. However the fields were noticeably wetter today following the heavy overnight rain and  looking at the weather forecast for tomorrow with the predicted heavy rain I suspect that the mammals will be affected and may disperse.    Yesterday there was a female Merlin in the area and today a Peregrine,  2 Woodcock,  pair of Stonechat and significant increase in the numbers of common passerines.                                                                         Other birds reported include 3 Short Eared Owls at Nevilles Lodge, Finedon today, Crossbills at Fineshade Wood,  Cattle Egret at Wicksteed Water Meadows and  Marsh Harrier and Pink Footed Goose at Stanford Reservoir. 

Regards Eleanor