Recent Sightings - 2nd December 2019
With all trees now bare, winter is a great time of year to watch our small woodland birds. Diminutive but yet beautiful Tits and finches; darting from branch to branch, and tree to tree, searching for food. The Treecreepers are showing really well around the swamp at moment! However, the leafless eaves of the woodland are perfect to watch the UK's smallest avian resident, the Goldcrest.
Very distinctive with their bright yellow crests and green body. Weighing under 7 grams, this tiny bird has to be constantly feeding to survive the winter months. Very carefully, quickly and with precision, they move from twig to twig, squeezing their small beaks under lichens, picking off insects. They especially love the larch and spruce trees in our woodland; the cones and spruce needles are a wonderful, and usually a safe, home for a plethora of insects. However the Goldcrest uses its teeny bill to fit into even the smallest of spaces.
Watch out for these little wonders as you walk along the woodland edges and paths.
Count taken at low tide this morning.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent Geese 106, Shelduck 221, Wigeon 6, Oystercatcher 13, Curlew 4, Black-headed Gull 2, Little Egret 1
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 89, Tufted duck 17, Teal 35, Gadwall 1, Moorhen 3
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 35, Teal 23, Moorhen 1
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Moorhen 13, Jackdaw 12, Carrion Crow 2
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannog
Mallard 10, Teal 12, Coot 2, Grey Heron 1
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little Grebe 3, Greenshank 1, Moorhen 2
Brickworks
Woodpigeon 3
Peninsula field and marsh
Snipe 1, Buzzard 1
Woodland
Blackbird, Song Thrush, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blue tit, Great tit, Coal tit, Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Magpie, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon
