Little-ringed Plovers nest scraping
Little-ringed Plovers have bred on the reserve in the past but not for a very long time, we have improved many of the wetland areas to try to entice them back in recent years with particular focus on the Rushy Pen and the South Lake. During the last couple of weeks is seems two pairs and a spare have been touring the reserve, this week they have been seen to nest scrape which is very encouraging. We really hope that they settle down to nest soon. We have used cover cages in the past, this allows the plovers to access their nest but keeps other species from being able predate the eggs or trample them accidentally. We will watch carefully and see if they choose to breed, if a clutch is completed and it doesn't impact on other nearby breeding species we may (under licence) be able to rapidly deploy a nesting cage cover, if they choose a site with low pressure we will just let them to get on with it.
Today was the April 2019 Wetland Bird Survey date, counts as follows...
Little Grebe 10 (many hidden in emergent vegetation so count low)
Great Crested Grebe 3 (one on the estuary over high tide)
Cormorant 6
Great Egret 1
Grey Heron 4
Crane 4
Mute Swan 172
Greylag Goose 126
Canada Goose 75
Barnacle Goose 5
Shelduck 404
Wigeon 27
Gadwall 23
Teal 97
Mallard 307
Shoveler 47
Pochard 2
Tufted Duck 164
Garganey 1 drake on South Lake
Moorhen 100
Coot 64
Avocet 67
Oystercatcher 29
Grey Plover 1 flying over the river at high tide
Lapwing 40+
Little-ringed Plover 5
Curlew 31
Black-tailed Godwit 456
Bar-tailed Godwit 4 over high tide with the Curlews
Knot 18 came into the Top New Piece over high tide
Ruff 4 males (three now starting to grow out the ruff feathering)
Dunlin 15
Common Sandpiper 1 on Top New Piece
Redshank 18
Greenshank 1 seen on Top New and Tack Piece
Snipe 6
Kingfisher 1 at Martin Smith Hide
