Recent Sightings 24th June 2024
This morning’s tide was way out for the count around the Reserve, exposing our rocky shoreline for a lovely little visitor – a Rock pipit! Rock pipit’s are small, streaky brown birds that are often found along coastlines, feeding on small molluscs but also seeds and invertebrates. They are slightly larger than Meadow pipits, with similar, yet darker, plumage. Lots of Meadow pipits were active on the Reserve as well, displaying over the Brickworks, Limestone Grassland and the Peninsula Field.
Colourful birds were all over the Reserve, including Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Jay (pictured), Pheasant, and Great tit. The Sparrowhawk was being seen off by Swallows as it soared from the Woodland out over the Brickworks and Common terns were busy calling to one another in the sunshine and fishing over Saline and Freshwater Lagoon.
Both House martins and Swallows are filling the skies at the moment. At a speedy fly-by glance, they can be very difficult to tell apart. However, the Swallow has long tail streamers, and the House martin has a bold white rump. These are probably the easiest distinguishing factors to tell whilst they’re performing their amazing aerial acrobatics!
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Lesser black-backed gull 6, Little egret 1, Common gull 2, Black-headed gull 6, Oystercatcher 1, Rock pipit 1
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Little grebe 2, Mallard 45, Gadwall 3 (3 ducklings), Mute swan 2, Moorhen 5 (7 chicks), Lesser black-backed gull 1, Black-headed gull 1, Common gull 1, Coot 1 (3 chicks), Rook 60 (overhead), House martin, Swallow, Great tit, Wren, Wood pigeon, Pied wagtail, Sedge warbler, Goldfinch
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 32, Oystercatcher 1, Black-headed gull 7, Jackdaw 2, Shelduck 2 (9 ducklings)
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Black-headed gull 2, Jackdaw 5, Moorhen 1, Swallow, Pied wagtail, Wren
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Moorhen 2 (1 chick), Gadwall 4 (2 ducklings), Mallard 12, Hooded crow 1, Swallow, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Wren, Sedge warbler, Wood pigeon
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Common tern 7, Wren, Mallard 1, Herring gull 1, Black-headed gull 1
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Jackdaw 1, Black-headed gull 2, Meadow pipit, House martin, Blackbird, Swallow
Peninsula Field
Meadow pipit, Pheasant
Brickworks
Blackbird, Meadow pipit, Jackdaw
Limestone Lake
Lesser black-backed gull 2, Tufted duck 1 (1 duckling), Mallard 2, Wood pigeon, Chiffchaff
Woodland
Jay, Sparrowhawk, Long-eared owl, Blackbird, Wood pigeon, Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Great tit, Robin, Blackcap, Raven
