Crane news and Little Gulls
Image- Little Gull over the Tack Piece- MJM
Very heavy rain led to rising water levels and a few more migrants about the reserve.
Tack Piece
Two adult breeding plumage Little Gull, 2 Common Sandpiper, 7 Dunlin early morning, a single mid morning (probably alpina) and 30 late morning, perhaps turnover, 2 Curlew, 83 Black-tailed Godwit, Egyptian Goose, 3 drake Wigeon, pair of Shoveler, 11 Teal, a few Black-headed Gulls, a few Swifts plus House and Sand Martins, Swallows and Snow, Egyptian and Greylag and Canada Geese
Rushy Hide
Two Common Sandpiper, 2 pairs Avocet, Lesser Whitethroat singing between here, Decoy and Martin Smith Hide.
South Lake
Adult breeding plumage Little Gull resting on the wader scrape (Hogarth Hide end) mid afternoon but flushed, also a 3cy Mediterranean Gull, 4 Common Sandpiper, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Avocet, nesting Crane, pair of Shoveler, pair of Little Grebe.
White-spotted Bluethroat
Despite the awful weather it has been seen on a few occasions and has sang well today. View from the seawall, Shepherds Hut Hide.
Middle Point
Lesser Whitethroat singing, adult Little Gull flew upriver after midday. Marsh Harrier touring the reserve.
Crane News
Our first Crane chick of 2024 has hatched, 'Wendy and Albert' have at least a single youngster at their feet and are very attentive as the feed and tend and keep a lookout for predators. We expect the pair on the Top New Piece 'Oakie and Sherbert' to hatch later this week with the South Lake pair 'Ruby and Wilde' a day or two behind them.
