Family of 4 cranes apparently left in morning, then 13 flew east over hides midday, with the usual 3 plus the 4 returning from different directions late afternoon (same time as barn owl appeared). Don’t think that the merlin was seen all day, but wouldn’t be if it caught something elsewhere. A single cattle egret Went east mid afternoon (and a pair of ravens), probably to join the c.170 at greinton (NE of reserve)

Female merlin put in a couple of appearances - mid morning and mid afternoon; no sign of the tagged hen harrier, however another family of 4 cranes flew in over greylake village at sunset. Probably 1000 lapwing on surrounding fields, but not many on reserve; chiffchaff around hides (last week by car park and half way to hides) plus water rail

An early morning visit to Greylake reserve produced the following list:
Barn Owl. 2 hunting at the northern end of the reserve at the same time.
Marsh Harrier. 1 male and a female.
Common Crane 2 adults 1 juvenile foraging in the field western end of the reserve (good view with a scope).
Kestrel 1
Buzzard 1
Teal
Wigeon
Mallard
Greylag Goose 35
Lapwing
Black-headed Gull 14
Great White Egret 1
Cattle Egret 2
Grey Heron 1
Mute Swan 5
Carrion Crow 2
Starling
Blackbird
Cetti’s Warbler
Stonechat 1 female
Robin
House Sparrow
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Dunnock
Magpie 1
Chaffinch

03-Oct-2024
My first visit here this autumn: very quiet, no water as yet, although weed-cutting by tractors has begun in front of the Main Hide and a working party was hard at it cutting down the saplings to clear the area imediately south of the Tree/Raised Hide. 11.00 to 12:30, 3 distant GW Egrets flying together, distant Grey Heron, 4 Buzzards & 2 Kestrels over the cut areas, single Snipe flew in, hovering Kingfisher, 2 Chiffchaffs, calling Water Rail & Cetti’s Warbler; another visitor heard Bearded Tits near the floating platform.