Recent Sightings 30th January 2023
There was a receding tide and some milder temperatures this morning for the weekly bird count, with the sun bursting out just often enough to entice the Kingfisher out for a spot of fishing on the Main Lake. A couple of cormorants had the same idea, drying their long feathers as they stand at the Shingle Bank on display.
The Whooper swan is still reigning over the Saline Lagoon, occasionally making its characteristic ‘whooping’ noises, not unlike an old car horn! A small number of Grey plover (pictured) were seen out on the Estuary, these are the larger and (unsurprisingly) greyer relative of the Golden plover. These sturdy little grey waders like mudflats where they can feed on invertebrates and crustaceans, and in spring time they sport a striking black chest and belly as they prepare for breeding season.
Did you know – one of the collective nouns for a group of Plovers is a congregation!
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Hooded crow 2, Light-bellied brent goose 141, Shelduck 261, Redshank 23, Curlew 24, Herring gull 6, Oystercatcher ~60, Common gull 1, Grey plover 23, Greenshank 1, Black-tailed godwit 4, Goldeneye 5, Black-headed gull 7, Dunlin 50, Little egret 1, Eider 34
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 122, Teal 13, Kingfisher 1, Moorhen 3, Tufted duck 8, Gadwall 30
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Wigeon 1, Cormorant 2, Teal 109, Mallard 13, Moorhen 5, Gadwall 25
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Teal 2, Redshank 2, Little egret 2
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Moorhen 4, Teal 3, Little egret 1, Mallard 2
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Moorhen 1, Whooper swan 1, Redshank 2, Little grebe 5, Greenshank 1
Peninsular Saltmarsh
Mute swan 2
Brickworks
Jackdaw 6, Robin
Limestone Lake
Moorhen 2, Little grebe 2, Wood pigeon 1
Woodland
Magpie, Chaffinch, Great tit, Blackbird, Blue tit, Robin, Bullfinch, Long-tailed tit
