Recent Sightings (14th-17th July)
British Steel Hide
A nice set of high tides during the past couple of mornings have pushed good numbers of birds up onto the saline lagoons. An adult Spotted Redshank was joined by 52 Greenshank, 620 Curlew, 9 Whimbrel, 7 Dunlin, 119 Redshank and c.40 Lapwing on the 16th. An adult Spoonbill, 26 Shelduck, 268 Black-headed Gulls, 2 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, a Common Gull, 8 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 10 Linnets and 14 Greylag Geese were also present on the same morning. A return passage Willow Warbler was heard singing in the grounds. Work is now underway to re-landscape the Dafen Scrapes area and it's already very different to what it used to look like.
Millennium Wetlands
The highlight of the last few days on the reserve side was a juvenile Goshawk which was seen flying over the Deep Water Lake on the 16th. 136 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Knot, 5 Redshank, 2 Lapwing and a Snipe have been seen around Deep Water Lake. Also on the wetlands have been 13 Coot, 2 Teal, 4 Little Grebes and 2 Mute Swan families. The Black-headed Gull colonies have suddenly fallen very quiet with most of the young now fledged. Large Tit flocks are beginning to form in the northern loop woodlands, often being joined by Treecreepers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps.
Other Wildlife
A Grass Snake was seen in the grounds and the first Common Darter of the year was seen around the fishing platforms.
