Cuckoos
A lovely day warm in the sun from early on and plenty of insect life for birds feeing young. Four Cuckoo seen on the Outer Reed Bed Walk the birds are calling inside the grounds too and can be seen from the Harrier Hide, Janet Kear Hide and United Utilities Hide. The Inner Reed Bed Walk is closed until after the breeding season.
Bittern booming, possibly two out on the Reed Bed and heard from the Harrier Hide.
Signs of breeding birds included Pochard with 7 chicks on Woodend Marsh and Avocet with 3 recently hatched chick also on Woodend. Newly hatch Black-headed chicks on the Mere.
Wader counts; 36 Avocet, 20+ Lapwing, 4 Oystercatcher, 4+ Redshank, 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 3 Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit.
Two Common Tern mostly on Woodend Marsh.
Warblers singing include Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Reed and Sedge Warbler.
Just off the reserve on Curlew Lane, 5 Yellow Wagtail.
