Recent Sightings 11th - 17th December
Highlights: Lapwings, Goshawk, Siberian Chiffchaff and Jays
British Steel Hide
Due to ongoing maintenance work being carried out in front of the British Steel Hide the saline lagoons have been quiet this week, but hopefully the work will be completed by christmas. Last weekend on the saline lagoons two Spotted Redshanks were seen feeding in amongst numbers of Redshank and Greenshank and ten Spoonbills were seen roosting. The dafen scrapes are undisturbed and are attracting flocks of Wigeon and Lapwing as well as a small selection of other ducks. A juvenile Goshawk was seen cruising over the dafen scrapes on the 11th. Be on the look out for Pipits on the dafen scrapes, with Water, Rock and Meadow PIpits seen feeding around the edges of the pools recently.
Millennium Wetlands
On the deep water lake, large flocks of Lapwing have been roosting on the stony islands and Pochard are beginning to come back for the winter with eight birds (three drakes) now on the reserve. Also seen from the Peter Scott Hide have been Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Teal, Gadwall, Wigeon, Little Grebe and Coot. Last weekend there were two Chiffchaffs and a Siberian Chiffchaff feeding near the Heron's Wing Hide with a mixed flock of Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrests and Treecreepers. Jays are struggling for food this year with the lack of acorns so keep an eye out on the feeding stations for these colourful corvids. Otter prints and scat have been found in numerous places on the reserve and it shouldn't be long before we start getting daytime sightings.
