Recent Sightings (6th-9th Jan)
British Steel Hide
Wader counts from the steel hide have included 282 Black-tailed Godwits, 402 Dunlin, 4 Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank, 5 Redshank, 95 Lapwing, 6 Knot and 2 Curlew. A very large flock of Knot was viewable from the hide on the 9th, the flock was out over the estuary and must have been over 10,000 strong! Wildfowl have included c.220 Wigeon, 42 Mallard, 15 Tufted Ducks, 193 Shoveler (estuary), 81 Pintail (estuary), a male Goldeneye (estuary), 15+ Dark-bellied Brent Geese (estuary), 178 Shelduck, 72 Greylag Geese and 3 Gadwall. Other species have included a Peregrine, 2 Ravens, 9 Cormorants, 25 Linnets, 9 Goldfinches, 3 Reed Buntings, 3 Little Egrets, 182 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Mistle Thrush and the Spoonbill has been a regular on the lagoons up until the 8th at least.
Millennium Wetlands
Wildfowl counts from the wetlands include 40 Tufted Ducks, 72 Gadwall, 30 Shoveler, 18 Coot, 7 Shelduck, 5 Little Grebes, 35 Teal, 10 Greylag Geese, 15 Canada Geese, 7 Pochard and 10 Mute Swans. The female Ring-necked Duck was still on the header pond on the 6th. Waders on the deep water lake have included 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 9 Snipe and a Lapwing. A bit of a cold snap brought about a big influx in Thrush numbers on the 8th, with hundreds of Redwings and 10+ Fieldfares being seen in the hedgerows around the visitor centre. A couple of the Fieldfares headed out over the estuary, obviously trying to escape the cold! Flocks of up to 11 Siskins have been feeding on Alders around the fishing platforms. Other species have included a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, 2 Grey Herons, a Little Egret, 7 Cormorants, 7 Bullfinches and a Hawfinch was seen in the grounds on the 7th.
Other Wildlife
An Otter was seen on the Deep Water Lake from the fishing platforms on the 6th.
