Seasonal Shorncote

28 Oct - An afternoon visit, dusk being at 5pm due to the changing of the clocks to GMT. Cold and windy but bright. Highlights included a Great White Egret (the second of the day!), Snipe, Green Sandpiper and most unexpectedly a very late Greenshank. A flock of more than 50 Fieldfares flew west at dusk, together with a few Redwings. Water Rails and Cetti's Warblers called from the reeds as did a Kingfisher on flyby. Worth a short vigil was the emergence of a Barn Owl from the old willows just prior to dusk - it looked around from its perch then flew off silently towards the reedbed. Three Roe Deer were feeding close by but never knew I was watching them, due to the wind direction. A nice autumnal evening. At lunchtime, 3 Egret species within 30 minutes - Great White and Little Egrets from the gate at pit 74, and the 2 Cattle Egrets still faithful to Waterhay. Oh, and a flyby Grey Heron for good measure.