Avocets Return
The first of the returning Avocet flew in today, three birds, still present late afternoon from the Ron Barker Hide. These birds are a little latter than the first birds of 2011, but this isn [...]
The first of the returning Avocet flew in today, three birds, still present late afternoon from the Ron Barker Hide. These birds are a little latter than the first birds of 2011, but this isn't too surprising as the recent cold snap will have made them think twice before heading this far North. With milder weather to come this week, many more should arrive.
A Med Gull was present with Black-headed Gulls mid afternoon form the Ron Barker Hide. We have a roost of Black-headed Gulls which is now building to over 2000 birds, quite impressive, especially when flushed by a raptor or two. A Greater Black-backed Gull and a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls were feeding on the corpse of a recently dead Common Shelduck along the edge of the Mere.
In recent weeks one of these Lesser Black-backs has been causing some debate as to whether it might be a Yellow-legged Gull due to it's obviously paler mantle. We managed to get some reasonable photographs of the bird on the ground and in flight and sent them to assorted 'gull experts' who are fairly convinced that it isn't a Yellow-legged Gull.
The rain kept birds of prey sighting down to just 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Common Buzzard and Sparrowhawk.
Other waders included 80+ Ruff, 5 Ringed Plover, 30 Oystercatcher, 10 Black-tailed Godwit and a few Common Snipe.
AB
