Recent Sightings (14th-16th March)
British Steel Hide
3 Spoonbill were last seen on 14th. A count of 204 Black-tailed Godwit, 139 Redshank, 40 Greylag Geese, 57 Wigeon, 17 Shelduck and 7 lapwing was taken from the British Steel Hide. Further counts included 18 Tufted Duck, 13 Mallard, 3 Pochard and 3 Teal on the Dafen Scrapes. Hidden among the vegetation stood a Grey heron, and Cetti's Warbler could be heard singing and a Raven and Peregrine also have been seen passing the hide. Forty-two Cormorant gathered on the saline lagoon and there were counts of 3 Common Gull, 24 Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 12 Herring Gull and a Yellow-Legged Gull.
Millennium Wetlands
As the Black-Headed Gull colony slowly increases in numbers on the Deep Water Lake, 111 were counted on 16th, along with 24 Tufted Duck, 11 Pochard, 16 Gadwall, 11 Shoveler, 3 Black-Tailed Godwit, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 11 Herring Gull and 2 Wigeon. A passing flight of a kestrel on 15th, as well as 3 Mediterranean Gull were spotted over the Deep Water Lake and 11 Lapwing have been using the area. Also seen around the reserve include 2 Kingfisher, 10 singing Chiffchaff, 7 Redwing and the Water Rail beneath the bird feeders, 1 Jay and 1 Green Woodpecker. There was also a sighting of a Barn Owl roosting on 16th.
Grounds
Another colony of Black-Headed Gulls on the lagoon tallied to 220 individuals on 16th, a Red Kite was seen this week overhead and also near the site entrance is still the sighting of a Hawfinch.
Other Wildlife
Bees have been more and more active this week, with sightings of Honeybees, a Buff-tailed Bumblebee and White-tailed Bumblebee.
