Recent Sightings 17th July 2023
Our resident Shelduck ducklings are starting to look more like Shelduck teenagers now, as they sit casually on the Shingle Bank – their adult feathers starting to come through stronger and give them that iconic Shelduck plumage. A Grey heron and group of Little egrets were surveying over the Main Lake as Little grebes noisily called to one another and the Tufted ducks dived down in search of food.
Lots of Blue tit (pictured) fledglings are out making the most of the Woodland, travelling in small groups and catching insects, caterpillars and spiders. Most of these young birds were born and raised in our bird boxes on site, dotted around the reserve throughout the woodland and next to all our hides. It’s nice to see such successful breeding of one of our most recognizable and endearing garden birds!
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Black-headed gull 64, Common gull 8, Little egret 2, Hooded crow 4, Lesser black-backed gull 4, Curlew 16, Oystercatcher 92, Greater black-backed gull 3, Grey heron 1, Herring gull 7, Shelduck 1, Eider 12, Swift 1, Common seal 7
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Coot 3 (1 chick), Grey heron 1, Little egret 7, Swallow 2, Moorhen 2, Little grebe 2, Mallard 44, Mute swan 2, Gadwall 2 (2 ducklings), Tufted duck 5
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Moorhen 2, Black-tailed godwit 2, Shelduck 1 (7 ducklings), Mallard 50, Black-headed gull 3
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Little egret 2, Mallard 1, Moorhen 1, Black-headed gull 1, Wood pigeon 2
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Moorhen 3, Mallard 4, Swallow 6, Gadwall 1 (5 ducklings)
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little grebe 3
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Black-headed gull 1
Brickworks
Greylag goose 5, Hooded crow 4
Limestone Lake
Moorhen 1
Woodland
Dunnock, Robin, Wood pigeon, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Blue tit, Coal tit, Long-tailed tit, Goldcrest, Magpie, Swallow, House martin, Swift
