Recent Sightings 6th May 2024
The tide was in for this week’s count, which brought a large group of Great-crested grebe within view of the Brent Hide. Great-crested grebe are the largest species of grebe that we get in the UK, and with their long, slender necks and elaborate head plumage, they are easily recognizable – even from a distance when they’re out on the Lough. The tide also brought in a small roost of Whimbrel onto the Peninsula Saltmarsh – very similar to Curlew, but with a shorter bill and a prominent eye-stripe.
Chicks and ducklings of all sorts have started making appearances around the water bodies of the reserve. Small coot chicks can be difficult to distinguish from Moorhen chicks, but an adult is always keeping a watchful eye close by to help with identification!
The Crannog is alive with Sedge warbler (pictured) song as territories are being established in the reeds. A male Sedge warbler never sings the same song twice, and adds different segments and changes the arrangement every time he sings in order to impress females with its complexity.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Black-headed gull 1, Great-crested grebe 24, Light-bellied brent goose 11
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 10, Black-headed gull 6, Lesser black-backed gull 1, Little grebe 1, Moorhen 2, Gadwall 5, Coot 1, Great tit, Blue tit, Blackbird, Wren, Robin, Chaffinch
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Black-headed gull 59, Oystercatcher 204, Common gull 3
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Swallow 2, Sedge warbler 1, Red-breasted merganser 1, Black-tail godwit 2, Shelduck 1, Black-headed gull 30, Blackbird, Jackdaw 1, Greater black-backed gull 1, Spotted redshank 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Coot with 6 chicks, Mallard with 8 ducklings, Tufted duck 2, Reed bunting 2, Sedge warbler 2, Mute swan 2, Black-headed gull 46, Moorhen 1, Swallow 1
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Black-headed gull 26, Gadwall 1
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Whimbrel 5, Common gull 1, Meadow pipit 1, Little egret 2, Black-headed gull 8, Shelduck 2, Mallard 3, Gadwall 3, Blackbird, Song thrush
Peninsula Field
Hooded crow 1
Brickworks
Jackdaw 2
Limestone Lake
Common tern 2, Grey heron 1, Black-headed gull 6, Jackdaw 1, Willow warbler 1, Wood pigeon, Blackbird, Songthrush
Woodland
Robin, Blackcap, Wood pigeon, Willow warbler, Blackbird, Great tit, Coal tit, Jackdaw, Wren, Swallow, Goldcrest, Grey heron 1
