Welcoming the autumn
For some birders the first returning Green Sandpiper of the year signals the start of autumn migration...
For some birders the first returning Green Sandpiper of the year signals the start of autumn migration. On average, the first bird back is recorded on 10th June but this year our first was 6th June. Today the single bird was joined by at least three more, so autumn has well and truly started!
Summer Walkway / Middle Point
The White-spotted Bluethroat was showing regularly, sat up singing on the perches and reed-tops again this morning. The bird seems to have become more 'showy' as it was on view most of yesterday morning too. Technical gremlins on the website prevented us making an update here yesterday - apologies!
Zeiss Hide
A Bittern just flew north from the Top New Piece direction, out over the grounds, past the Visitor Centre and then out over the Rushy. Back on the Top New Piece this morning were three Garganey (two eclipse drakes and a single female), a brood of at least five growing Shoveler ducklings, nine Redshank, two broods of Shelduck ducklings, a brood of Gadwall ducklings, and at least six Black-tailed Godwit.
South Lake
The Black-winged Stilt was again on the wader scrape with three Green Sandpiper, 84 Black-tailed Godwit, 131 adult Avocet plus around 30 chicks and two Little Ringed Plover. Some of the Avocet chicks are now only a few days off fledging. Four drake Pochard were on the deep lake. Yesterday a Great Crested Grebe was seen here too, along with a pair of Wigeon and a brood of Gadwall ducklings.
Rushy Hide
A Green Sandpiper was on the lower pond this morning with ten Avocet. The moulting flock of Gadwall totaled 87 birds, and a female was seen with a single duckling. The Oystercatcher nesting in front of the Peng Observatory appear to have failed, with just a lone bird loafing on the upper pond islands. Also of note were four Teal, 27 Shoveler and a brood of two well-grown Mallard ducklings with a female.
Kingfisher Hide
Very little activity recently, so the female may now be incubating a second brood. The Crane family were in the long grass of the Bottom New Piece close to the tree line this morning.
Martin Smith Hide
The colour-ringed Great Egret and a couple of Little Egret were seen fishing here throughout the day. A Kingfisher was also showing well, hunting from the perches across the pond.
