Recent Sightings 6th March 2023
The tide was coming in this morning and bought with it the Light-bellied brent geese which are still hanging around before they head off again. The Black-headed gulls are also starting to slowly but surely rise in number, as individuals gain their chocolate-brown hoods in preparation for their breeding season. Their distinctive calls are getting louder, a sign of busy times to come!
There are promising signs of Woodpecker activity in the Upper Woodland, as a newly excavated hole has been discovered in one of the trees – fresh sawdust still peppering the floor below. There have been fleeting glimpses and distant calls heard over the past month or so, indicating that there’s perhaps one hanging around and hopefully getting comfortable.
Two Stonechats (pictured) were spotted in the Peninsular Field at the far end of the reserve. These little passerines have a rusty orange breast and a bold white marking on their necks. They get their name because the sound of their calls is not unlike two stones being hit together!
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Oystercatcher 302, Greenshank 2, Redshank 25, Hooded crow 5, Black-tailed godwit 2, Shelduck 79, Light-bellied brent goose 201, Curlew 53, Black-headed gull 36, Widgeon 8, Little egret 1, Dunlin 10, Eider 20, Jackdaw 1, Greater black-backed gull 2
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Little egret 2, Tufted duck 9, Mallard 37, Gadwall 4, Teal 3, Little grebe 1, Moorhen 1, Raven (flying over) 2
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Cormorant 1, Grey heron 1, Gadwall 2, Jackdaw 4, Mallard 30, Teal 86
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Moorhen 3, Teal 2, Greenshank 1, Redshank 10
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Redshank 1, Moorhen 4, Mallard 3, Teal 7, Little egret 1
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Redshank 2, Greenshank 1, Little grebe 1, Mallard 2, Moorhen 2
Peninsular Saltmarsh
Shelduck 2, Black-headed gull 2, Redshank 1
Peninsular Field
Stonechat 2
Brickworks
Robin
Limestone Lake
Mallard 2, Moorhen 1, Little grebe 1
Woodland
Goldfinch, Dunnock, Great tit, Blue tit, Wood pigeon, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Magpie, Wren
