Recent sightings 3rd - 5th July
Highlights include, Collared Pratincole, Great white egret and Sparrowhawk
British Steel hide
The highlight this week has been the Collared Pratincole, which has been visible from the steel hide recently. Large numbers of curlew and black-tailed godwit have been seen on the saline lagoons at high tide, with groups of juvenile lapwing around the edges of the lagoon. Small groups of greenshank and redshank have been seen feeding on the salt marsh. Large numbers of black-headed gull fledglings have been seen on both the Dafen scrapes and the salt marsh, still being fed by their parents.
Millennium wetlands
On Wednesday a great white egret was seen fishing in front of the Herons wing hide. Our three resident swan families are doing well and are being well looked after by attentive and protective parents. Juvenile pochard have been seen regularly in front of the Peter Scott hide as well as family's of tufted duck. Sparrowhawks have been seen hunting regularly around the reserve often near the swans nest maze. Small groups of mediterranean gulls are often seen spending the afternoons on the Stone islands in front of the Peter Scott hide.
Grass snakes and slow worms are often seen basking on log piles around the reserve. Painted lady small copper and ringlet butterflys are often seen near Hopkins folly and around the reedbeds. We also have regular sightings of cinnabar and scarlet tiger moths.