Autumn at Feckenham

We have had some excellent autumn visitors recently. Flocks of fieldfare, redwing, siskin and redpoll have all been seen on the reserve together with goldfinches and goldcrest which were flying around the main pool with a family of long tailed tits.

Our resident kingfisher has been there every day and has provided some excellent views, in particular taking a dead dragonfly from the pool surface which it struggled to swallow.

I spotted this great spotted woodpecker last week on one of the oaks in the poolside wood and last Friday we had a brief visit from a female hen harrier which unfortunatley was not near enough for a good photograph but through binoculars it could be seen stretching and preening on one of the large willow branches at the far end of the paddock. There have been three or four buzzards about and the raven flew over again last week calling as it went.

We have a regular Wednesday workparty which over the winter will continue with reedbed management and alder coppicing so anyone interested in joining us would be very welcome. We start at 10.00am and meet in the management area at the entrance to the reserve.

Paul, Feckenham Wylde Moor