Recent Sightings - 27th May 2019
Exciting news! Black-headed gull eggs are begin to crack open and reveal beautiful, mottled, fluffy chicks! The young gull chicks are very different from their parents; no feathers yet, only soft down to keep them warm. their colours contrast substantially with their parents; pale brown mottled with black splodges. These patterns help break up their outline and act as camouflage so they can blend in amongst the rocks, earth and nests on the ground. A very effective way to stay hidden from predators. Watch out for a glimpse of the young poking their heads out from underneath their mother, as you walk round the colony this week.
Count taken at high Tide
Estuary – visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Black-headed Gull 11, Oystercatcher 4, Common Tern 1, Cormorant 1, Dunlin c.50, Lesser Black-backed Gull 4
Main lake – visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 23, Tufted Duck 5, Coot 5, Black-headed Gull c.50, Shelduck 1, Goldeneye 1,
Shingle bank – visible from Sensory garden, Wadermarsh and Visitor Centre
Black-head Gull c.50, Mallard 7, Shelduck 3, Oystercatcher 499, Greylag 2,
Wadermarsh – visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Black-headed Gull 3, Greylag 5, Mallard 6, Moorhen 1,
Freshwater Lagoon – visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mallard 11, Tufted Duck 3, Shelduck 2+9 young, Shoveler 2, Black-headed Gull c.400, Moorhen 2, Coot 2
Saline Lagoon – visible from Limekiln observatory
Black-headed Gull c.40, Common Tern 3, Gadwall 2, Red-breasted Merganser 2
Limestone Lake
Little Grebe 1, Mallard 2
Peninsula Field and Saltmarsh
Shelduck 2, little Egret 1
Brickworks
Magpie 2
Woodland
Blue tit, Great tit, Coal tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Goldcrest, Blackcap, Wren, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, Wood Pigeon, Jackdaw
Seen in the past week (not on this morning's count)
Curlew, Linnet, Herring Gull, Teal
Butterflies
Peacock, Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Small White, Large White, Speckled wood, Holly Blue
