Recent Sightings (16th-18th May)
Millennium Wetlands
Its been a busy week out on the reserve. Still lots of nesting activity on the Deep Water Lake main island and stony islands by Black Headed Gulls and the Lapwings which are having a record year since their decline on the sight the past years, with several chicks hatching in the past few weeks. There was also an adult Mediterranean Gull seen on 16th and 18th.
With high tides the Black-tailed Godwits have been coming into the freshwaters with numbers reaching 429 on 18th, with 1 Knot joining them a couple days before. At least 4 Swifts were calling and flying low on 16th. Furthermore, 2 Whimbrel flew over the site on 18th and we had a Buzzard and Green Woodpecker too.
Deep Water Lake held host to 10 Tufted Duck, a pair of Pochard, 5 Gadwall, 11 Shelduck, a Coot, a Greylag Goose and 2 Moorhen.
British Steel Hide
An adult Spoonbill has joined the 2 immature this week out on the saline lagoons. A count from the hide showed 5 Ringed Plover, 68 Shelduck, 1 Wigeon, 1 Little Egret and 4 Canada Geese. There has also been 26 Black-Headed Gull, 21 Lesser Black-Backed Gull and 8 Herring Gull. Six Greylag Geese were in the area, as well as a Greenfinch and 4 Swallows and 2 Cormorant. On the Dafen Scrapes 8 Gadwall were feeding and 3 Moorhen were in the area too. A pair of Garganey were spotted on the freshwater lagoon on the 16th and are still about. Another pair was found on the NRA scrapes on the 17th.
Other 'Wild' Life
Our Livestock collection on site is slowly building in numbers. There are now 2 Welsh Black beef cattle on the Western Scrapes. Their names are Patrick and Pedr! They should have a bit more company joining them soon!
