Recent Sightings - 2nd March 2020
Yesterday we had a rather exciting visitor on the reserve! A Spoonbill was spotted by one of our visitors feeding on the Peninsula Saltmarsh yesterday afternoon.
Just before high tide, the Spoonbill was taking advantage of the marshes pools and gave wonderful views as it fed in it's distinctive manner; holding it's beak under the water and swishing it's head side to side in search of small fish and invertebrates in the water. And as if this wasn't enough to gawk at! Mixed flocks of waders landed on the shoreline just next to the marsh, so to avoid their feet getting wet by the rising tide. (Full count below).
Spoonbills are as large as a heron and are very distinctive with their large spoon shaped beak....bill. At the tip of bill there is a yellow patch in adults and they often have an unkempt plume of white feather on their heads. Spoonbills are more usually seen in Europe where they breed and then in winter they migrate south to the Mediterranean and African coastlines.
If you ever see an unusual or special bird on site please let us know so we can record it and share the news with others!
Count taken Low tide.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Brent Geese 82, Shelduck 44, Curlew 4, Redshank 92, Greenshank 2, Black-tailed Godwit 5, Bar-tailed Godwit 1, Oystercatcher 7, Dunlin 37, Grey Plover 11, Little Egret 2, Black-headed Gull 43, Lesser Black-backed Gull 1, Great Black-backed Gull 1
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 82, Tufted duck 26, Teal 12, Shelduck 6, Greylag goose 1, Moorhen 4, Coot 1, Black-headed Gull 13, Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Cormorant 1, Gadwall 2, Teal 2, Moorhen 1
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Teal 55, Moorhen 7
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannog
Tufted duck 5, Mallard 12, Coot 4, Sparrowhawk 1
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Black-headed Gull 1
Brickworks
Jackdaw 6, Black-headed Gull 1, Song Thrush 1
Peninsula Marsh and shoreline beside Marsh, High Tide 01/03/2020
Spoonbill 1, Bar-tailed Godwit c.200, Knot c.50
Woodland
Robin, Dunnock, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Wren, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Coal Tit, Blue tit, Great tit, Treecreeper, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Sparrowhawk
