Recent Sightings 2nd January 2024
Happy New Year! The first count of 2024 provided us with Kingfishers and Peregrines and Plovers and Sparrowhawks – a lovely variety of some of our most striking, colourful and charismatic visitors to the reserve. Look out for the small passerines on the bird feeders at Main Lake, visible from the Turtle Hide, taking advantage of the extra feed during these winter months when food is scarce. From tiny Goldcrests to colourful Blue tits, you can test your bird ID skills.
Both Song thrush and Mistle thrush (pictured) were spotted on a walk through the Woodland. These birds look similar, but the Mistle thrush is larger and paler than the Song thrush. Their songs are also conveniently very distinctive and different – with the Song thrush repeating segments of its tune like verses, and the Mistle thrush sounding like a football rattle! Mistle thrushes are known for singing in all weathers, which is where their nickname ‘stormcock’ comes from.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Greater black-backed gull 1, Greenshank 3, Shelduck 18, Oystercatcher 23, Light-bellied brent goose 29, Little egret 6, Herring gull 4, Curlew 16, Black-headed gull 2, Teal 4, Hooded crow 4, Redshank 83, Golden plover ~200
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Cormorant 1, Peregrine falcon 1, Mallard 102, Teal 58, Gadwall 20, Tufted duck 3, Moorhen 7, Great tit, Goldcrest, Blue tit, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Teal 19, Mallard 3, Moorhen 1, Gadwall 6
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Redshank 3, Black-headed gull 1, Little egret 1, Moorhen 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mallard 6, Teal 12, Moorhen 5
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Kingfisher 1, Redshank 2, Little grebe 6
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Redshank 1, Black-headed gull 1
Brickworks
Raven 1, Oystercatcher 10 (flying over), Great tit 1, Robin 1, Jackdaw 3
Limestone Lake
Wood pigeon
Woodland
Blackbird, Mistle thrush, Song thrush, Great tit, Robin, Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Wood pigeon, Blue tit, Coal tit, Sparrowhawk
