Bird News 6 & 7 March
Spring is definitely in the air, lots of Waders building up on the reserve with counts of 102 Avocet, 86 Oystercatcher, 50 Ruff including a stunning male in almost full breeding plumage, 2 Redshank, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Curlew, 9 Black tailed Godwit all around the Mere.
Male Ruff in almost full breeding plumage 6th March (T. Disley)
An adult Mediterranean Gull was present mid afternoon on the 6th with good numbers of Black headed Gull, another sign of spring migration was a good count of 35 Common Gull on the Mere on the 7th.
A Water Rail was seen from Ron Barker hide on the 7th, and the 1st winter Ross's Goose is still present. A pair of Goldeneye were on the Mere on the 6th with upto 800 Whooper Swan. The only raptors reported were Common Buzzard and Kestrel.
