Maple Lodge Nature Reserve & Lynsters Farm

I arrived at the reserve late morning with weather conditions very dull with light rain throughout. My first stop was at Rotunda Hide where a male Cetti's Warbler was heard calling although distant. Despite today's wet weather the late summer and early autumn has been generally very dry and this was most evident on my arrival at the Teal Hide. The water levels here were low with exposed muddy islands now visible in several places. It was among these islands I discovered four Green Sandpiper and two Common Snipe busily feeding on the exposed mud. A single Grey Wagtail put in a brief appearance while on the water several drake Common Teal displayed to two disinterested ducks. I then made my way to Lynsters Hide where good numbers of geese were observed  feeding on the pasture at Lynsters Farm. Among them was a large gathering of Feral Rock Dove, sixty eight in total, all very nervous and flighty. At the far end of the farm a charm of Magpies was gathering, thirty eight in total. At Lynsters Gravel Pit (Lake) a pair of Eurasian Wigeon fed among the shallows while on the deeper water I noted Great Crested Grebe and Tufted Duck.
My final destination was Shell Hide where a Common Kingfisher put in the briefest of appearances while overhead a rather sodden Red Kite glided by followed by a small gathering of Eurasian Siskin.
A full list of species recorded as follows:-
Little Grebe (1), Great Cormorant (4), Grey Heron (1), Greylag Goose (97 L.F), Canada Goose (25 L.F), Eurasian Wigeon (2 LG.P), Gadwall (1), Common Teal (13), Mallard (16), Northern Shoveler (11), Tufted Duck (4), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (1), Red Kite (1), Common Buzzard (1), Common Moorhen (16), Eurasian Coot (3), Common Snipe (2), Green Sandpiper (4), Black-headed Gull (8), Common Gull (1 LG.P), Herring Gull (1 over), Feral Rock Dove (68 L.F), Stock Dove (2), Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (1), Common Kingfisher (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Meadow Pipit (1 over), Grey Wagtail (1), Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Redwing (2), Cetti's Warbler (1), Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper, Common Magpie (38 L.F), Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Starling, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Siskin (11).

                                                      View from Teal Hide today.