Spring sightings

Spring has definitely arrived in full force as we head into April. There has continued to be lots of chiffchaff seen (and heard!) around the reserve as well as our first confirmed sightings of sand martins and swallows from the Peter Scott Observatory. More and more of these will be seen over the coming weeks.

There has been lots of black headed gulls over the Folly and Whooper Ponds. As of yet, none are nesting on the rafts but they have shown interest so fingers crossed. There are still some whooper swans, wigeon, teal and shoveler around as well.

As usual, on the four-legged front, there have been lots of roe deer and brown hares sighted around the reserve, mainly from the Saltcot Observatory and the Avenue Tower. There was also a common lizard found inside the Saltcot Observatory! It was promptly returned outside to get some sun and insects. Common lizards hibernate during the winter, emerging in spring to mate before giving birth to live young (they are what is known as a viviparous reptile) in July or August.

30^th March

Folly Pond

• Wigeon
• Teal
• Shoveler
• Mallard
• Redshank
• Canada geese
• Roe deer
• Jackdaw
• Robin
• House sparrow
• Pied wagtail
• Whooper swan
• Black headed gull

Newfield

• Barnacle geese flock
• Rook
• Woodpigeon

Peter Scott Trail

• Blue tits
• Chaffinch
• Dunnock
• Wren
• Chiffchaff
• Carrion crow

Teal Pond

• Little grebe
• Moorhen
• Mute swan

Floodground

• Pintail
• Little egret
• Wigeon
• Teal
• Cormorant

Avenue Tower

• Roe deer
• Hare

Saltcot Merse Observatory

• Barnacle geese flock
• Little egret
• Shelduck
• Skylark
• Male hen harrier
• Roe deer

1^st April

Sharp’s Lookout

• Red shank
• Pintail
• Shelduck
• Whooper swan
• Shoveler
• Teal
• Wigeon
• Mallard
• Black headed gull
• Black tailed godwit
• Little egret

Saltcot Merse Observatory

• Goosander pair
• Little egret
• Shelduck
• Barnacle geese
• Lapwing
• Roe deer

Whooper Pond

• Canada geese

• Oyster catcher
• Moorhen

Teal Pond

• Little grebe
• Teal
• Moorhen
• Mute swan

Campbell Hide

• Wigeon
• Teal
• Shoveler
• Pintail
• Stonechat
• Curlew
• Lapwing

2^nd April

Backpond

• Little egret
• Heron

Whooper Pond

• Oyster catcher
• Goosander
• Cormorant

Folly Pond

• Redshank
• Black tailed godwit
• Shelduck
• Pintail
• Littlel egret
• Black header gull
• Gadwall
• Kestrel
• Golden plover
• Canada geese
• Oystercatcher

Cornerfield

• Snipe

Saltcot Merse Observatory

• Reed bunting
• Hares
• Male kestrel
• Lapwing

Teal Pond

• Gadwall
• Little egret

Avenue Tower

• Barnacle geese
• Pink-footed geese
• Red kite
• Buzzard
• Hare

Peter Scott Trail feeders

• Water rail

3rd April

Peter Scott Trail

• Chaffinch
• Mallard
• Chiffchaff

Peter Scott Observatory

• Mute swan
• Moorhen
• Mallard
• Grey heron

Saltcot Loaning

• Chaffinch
• Wren
• Blue tit
• Great tit
• Blackbird

Saltcot Merse Observatory

• Whinchat
• Lapwing
• Mallard

Folly Pond

• Whooper swan
• Shelduck
• Wigeon
• Teal
• Little egret
• Mallard
• Shoveler

Avenue Tower

• Pintail
• Wigeon
• Teal
• Little egret
• Barnacle geese
• Pink-footed geese
• Mallard mute swan
• Shelduck
• Wren
• Chiffchaff

4^th April

Near cottages

• Weasel
• Barn owl
• Sparrowhawk

5^th April

Peter Scott Observatory

• Swallow
• Sand martin

Wildlife garden

• Weasel

6th April

Scottish Water Hide

• Willow warbler singing

7th April

Folly Pond

• Whooper swan

Floodground

• Merlin

Saltcot Merse Observatory

• Common lizard

Feature photograph - Common lizard by Dave Milligan

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