Recent Sightings 4th March 2024
With an icy cold wind and the tide all the way out, this morning’s count was lacking a few of our usual residents – but there’s always something to see in nature! Despite the chill there was a Kingfisher on the Main Lake, making the most of the clear skies when the clouds parted, and plenty of song birds around the feeders at The Garden Hide. There were Cormorants fishing in the water and some very vocal Ravens calling in the trees overhead.
The Estuary hosted a nice variety of waders including two birds that can easily be mistaken for one another when in their winter plumage – Grey plover and Knot. Although when side by side they may be obviously different, at a distance they can cause some confusion. A great way to tell is that Grey plover (pictured) have black armpits, making this a very easy distinction when they’re on the move. They also have large, round, black eyes whereas Knot tend to have smaller eyes and a larger beak.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Oystercatcher 5, Black-tail godwit 25, Shelduck 35, Little egret 1, Lesser black-backed gull 2, Curlew 3, Grey plover 1, Redshank 8, Hooded crow 2, Light-bellied brent goose 14, Knot 2, Black-headed gull 2, Herring gull 2, Dunlin 1
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Cormorant 2, Gadwall 4, Jackdaw 2, Coot 3, Teal 12, Moorhen 4, Tufted duck 2, Mallard 19, Raven 2, Kingfisher 1, Blue tit, Robin, Mistle thrush, Blackbird, Wood pigeon, Great tit, Dunnock
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Teal 12, Mallard 5
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Teal 10, Redshank 7, Greenshank 2, Black-tail godwit 4, Black-headed gull 1, Little egret 1, Magpie 2
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Moorhen 3, Teal 11, Mallard 4
Brickworks
Jackdaw 4
Limestone Lake
Gadwall 5, Blue tit, Wood pigeon
Woodland
Blackbird, Rook, Robin, Wren, Wood pigeon, Goldcrest, Siskin
