Recent Sightings - 3rd February 2019
This week i thought I'd highlight one of our most conspicuous and yet overlooked residents; the Moorhen. These "water chicken" like birds are found around are commonly found on wetlands in the UK and Ireland, wading in the edges of ponds and lakes with their long legs. Being generalists they forage all sorts of invertebrates and plant matter in and around the water bodies here. Despite being so easily seen, their beauty is often overlooked; stunning yellow and red bill, long greenish legs and their smooth lovely navy feathers make them rather beautiful birds. The cold weather and frozen ponds force them to be more brave around people this time of year in order to search for food, so they give excellent views in nearly all of our habitats and the minute. Keep an eye out for them "ice-skating" like the one in the image belw.
Count was taken at mid-tide.
Estuary – visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Curlew 3, Black-headed Gull 36, Oystercatcher 11, Wigeon 2, Shelduck 59, Brent 27, Redshank 41, Dunlin 2, Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Main lake – visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Teal 11, Shoveler 3, Gadwall 7, Tuft 31, Mallard 152, Moorhen 4, Coot 5, Greylag goose 1,
Shingle bank – visible from Sensory garden, Wadermarsh and Visitor Centre
Teal 21, Gadwall 6, Shoveler 1, Coot 1, Moorhen 2, Mallard 36, Pintail 1, Black-headed Gull 23
Wadermarsh – visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Teal 10, Gadwall 3, Moorhen 11, Oystercatcher 4, Black-headed Gull 11, Redshank 6, Black-tailed Godwit 2, Curlew 1
Freshwater Lagoon – visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mallard 17, Moorhen 3,
Saline Lagoon – visible from Limekiln observatory
Little Grebe 3, Redshank 1, Greenshank 1
Limestone Lake
Moorhen 1, Tufted duck 2
Peninsula Field and Saltmarsh
Little Egret 1, Redshank 2, Black-headed Gull 1
Brickworks
Jackdaw, Woodpigeon
Woodland
Hooded Crow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Jay, Blue tit, Great tit, Coal tit, Long-tailed tit, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Goldcrest, Wren, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Dunnock
