First Great-crested Grebe chicks.
Yesterday's rain continued into the morning eventually giving way to sunshine and a brisk westerly. Today highlights are dominated by the news of the first of the Great-crested Grebes eggs to hatch. This is the first time these birds have bred on the reserve. The area in front of the Harrier Hide were the nest is situated contains some of the deepest water on the reserve and as many of you will know his area was farm land until the WWT converted it back in 2004.
At least one Wood Sandpiper still present out on Woodend Marsh viewed from the United Utilities Hide. With a recent spurt of plant growth you may have to be patient and wait of any of the birds to come into view.
No further reports of the Saturday's White-winged Black Tern but here is some video filmed by WWT volunteer Ron Jackson. Nice use of slow motion for such an active bird like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2DQ2kqsB6k&feature=youtu.be
Woodend Marsh is the nursery grounds of a number of species including some of the 40+ Avocet present. It's looking like a record year for this species on the reserve with at least 6 young now flying and many more of the 26 young close to taking to the wing. Redshank have fledged young here too and Ringed Plover chicks are coming along nicely. Also here the Common Tern still have 3 reasonably well grown chicks.
Other sightings included Cuckoo next to the Ron Barker Hide and Kingfisher from there too. A single flock of c.30 Gadwall is noteworthy. One or two pairs of Black-headed Gull are still hatching out chicks. Three Bullfinch, 2 male and a female near the Janet Kear Hide represent a record count of this species. Bee Orchids can still bee seen along the banking at the Harrier Hide.
