Wildlife sightings for 21st July 2012
2 Pochard Ducklings - main lake 5 Little Grebe chicks/juv's - wildside, main lake, sheltered lagoon 5 Common Tern chicks/juv's - main lake rafts and islands 3+ Blackcap - wildside, [...]
2 Pochard Ducklings - main lake
5 Little Grebe chicks/juv's - wildside, main lake, sheltered lagoon
5 Common Tern chicks/juv's - main lake rafts and islands
3+ Blackcap - wildside, sheltered lagoon carrying food
1 Chiffchaff - wildside
Additional sighting from yesterday:
1 Redshank - main lake
Recent bird highlights:
Spoonbill, Little Egret, Buzzard, Hobby, Peregrine, Avocet, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Curlew, Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Kingfisher, Nightingale, Stonechat, Crossbill, Wheatear.
Common Terns are breeding on the main lake rafts with several broods.
Tufted Duck, Pochard, Mallard, Little Grebe, Gadwall are all on nests throughout the reserve, but mostly hidden away amongst the thick vegetation on the islands
Breeding success so far includes 1 Pochard brood, 2 Gadwall broods, 2 broods of Common Tern, 1 Little Grebe brood, 2 Cetti's Warbler broods, 3 Blackcap broods. There are 3 Whitethroat territories, 1 Chiffchaff territory and 1 Lesser Whitethroat territory.
The scrape is drained and wetted on a weekly basis to attract feeding waders. Irregular waders of most species may turn up at any time this month so keep looking out for them. Also on the scrape the Sand Martins are nesting in the artificial bank. Watch them flying in and out as well as feeding over the muddy pools for insects.
