Recent Sightings 7th - 14th May
Highlights: Merlin, Pochard Ducklings, House Martin, Grey Plover, Peregrine
Millennium Wetlands
The Dawn Chorus Event on 7th May, saw visitors come bright and early to the reserve. They were rewarded by hearing Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Bunting, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a brief sighting of a Kingfisher.
Many birds of prey have been seen this week with a Peregrine Falcon, Sparrowhawk, Merlin and Marsh Harrier all causing havoc among the resident birds. Some signs that a bird of prey is in the area include hearing alarm calls (or no calls at all) and seeing the Black-headed Gulls all taking to the sky, so if you notice these signs, keep a keen eye out!
A House Martin was seen swopping over Deep Water Lake, where it joined Swallows, Swifts and Sand Martins. Another highlight was 5 Pochard ducklings swimming and feeding in front of the Peter Scott Hide on Tuesday evening; the first this year! We also have at least 1 pair of nesting Water Rail in the reedbed and we hope to find more as we complete our surveys for this species in the coming week. The Garganey have also been seen on the Western Scrapes this week.
Marsh Scrapes (British Steel Hide)
Last Sunday, the high tide brought in a flock of Grey Plover, some of which were in breeding plumage. In breeding plumage, both Grey Plover and Golden Plover have a black face, neck and belly, but the 2 are easily distinguishable by the colour of their backs. The Grey has a silver and black back, while the Golden has a (you guessed it) golden back.
Tuesday morning's count saw Whimbrel, a Kingfisher, and Bar-tailed Godwit join the usual Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Black-headed Gulls, Spoonbill and Little Egrets.
Freshwater Lagoon
This week, the freshwater lagoon continued to host the Little Ringed Plovers. Difficult to spot, these tiny waders are about the size of a Pied Wagtail and are often seen at the edges of the islands feeding. Saturday's count here also saw over 600 Black-tailed Godwit. 4 Knot, and a Wigeon.
The sightings board in the centre has been updated this week, to make it easier to see the recent highlights. We have also added other sections to encourage visitors to look out for non-bird species, such as wildflowers, dragonflies, mammals, and invertebrates. We love to hear what you've seen around the reserve and grounds, so please tell a member of staff if there's anything you'd like to add. Also, look out for the Fact of the Week, where you'll learn something fun about wetlands!
