Recent Sightings 20th-26th November
Garganey, Spoonbills, Water Pipits, Siberian Chiffchaffs and a Grey Seal
British Steel Hide
Some highlights from the British Steel Hide this week have included a late-staying Garganey, two Spotted Redshanks, up to ten Spoonbills and some big wader counts for the site. Counts of 1480 Dunlin and 554 Lapwing were good totals and the most seen on site for a number of years. Other waders on the pools have included Black-tailed Godwits, Knot, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Snipe and a Green Sandpiper. Counts from the estuary have included 170 Pintail, 48 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 33 Great Crested Grebes, a Goldeneye and a Grey Seal which ventured quite a way up the estuary on the high tide on the 21st. A Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk and three Buzzards have also been frequent and a Merlin has been seen hunting pipits out on the marsh.
Millennium Wetlands
Two Siberian Chiffchaffs were seen alongside two Chiffchaffs by the Water Lab near the centre building on the 24th, possibly the first record of this subspecies for the site. Up to two Bramblings have been seen, occasionally visiting the cafe feeders. On the Deep Water Lake, Lapwing and Snipe have been roosting on the stone islands along the usual selection of ducks. Up to 60 Cormorants have been coming into roost in the lakeside trees too. Redwings have been frequent and often seen feeding alongside Blackbirds and Song Thrushes in the bushes with the last remaining berries. Six Water Pipits have been seen coming into roost in the reed bed in the evenings. Eight were trapped and ringed (twelve in total this autumn) on the site on the 20th as part of the national effort to colour ring these intriguing attitudinal migrants. Be on the look out for Water Pipits with yellow colour rings if you manage to spot them out on the reserve!
