Recent Sightings 19th-21st February
Highlights: Goshawk, Pochard, Green Sandpiper, Stonechat, displaying Lapwing, Mistle thrush and two Otters showing almost daily!
British Steel Hide
A Spoonbill was still present on the 20th along with flocks of c.350 Black-tailed Godwits, 65 Knot and 131 Wigeon on the Dafen Scrapes. Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal and Tufted Ducks have all been recorded on the Dafen scrapes regularly. The Gulls are always worth checking if all else is quiet, given the persistent westerlies. Out on the estuary, 20 Grey Plovers were in amongst a mixed flock of Knot and Dunlin. Good numbers of Dark-bellied Brent Geese and Pintail are out on the estuary on a falling tide and can be viewed from the steel hide or observation tower. A female Kestrel is still to be found hunting in and around the grounds, often showing very well.
Millennium Wetlands
The highlight from recent days was an immature male Goshawk scaring the life out of the flocks of Jackdaws towards the eastern end of the reserve. Late news also, of a Green Sandpiper roosting on the Deep Water Lake on the 17th. A Kingfisher has been seen, as well as a pair of Stonechats, two Mistle Thrushes, a Sparrowhawk, 8 Redwings and up to 10 Little Egrets. Ducks on the Deep Water Lake have included 5 Shoveler, 6 Wigeon, 25 Tufted Ducks, 2 Pochard, 15 Coot and around 30 Teal. Lapwing are well and truly in display mode now, and on the rare nicer morning can be found in display flight over the Deep Water Lake islands. 33 Lapwing, 35 Black-tailed Godwits and 3 Snipe were seen from the Peter Scott Hide on the 20th.
Two Otters have been getting seen almost daily either from the Hides or the fishing platforms around the northern loop of the reserve.
