Flood feeding frenzy
The recent almost biblical deluge and flooding has been fantastic for the birds, with the area size of the mere having expanded noticeably it has provided a feeding frenzy for the wildfowl and large numbers of Gulls. The drake Scaup is still present along with small numbers of Tufted and Pochard. An increase in numbers of Shoveler bodes well as the nearby Blue-winged Teal at Marshside was with Shoveler, so there is a chance the bird maybe found on site. Good numbers of Teal, Pintail and Mallard are to be seen along with small numbers of Wigeon and Gadwall.
Large numbers of Pink-feet were on site today with upto 7,000 birds using the reserve and providing one of the best wildlife spectacles to be seen anywhere in the world! A single Barnacle Goose was also seen around the Mere today. A Peregrine and upto 3 Marsh Harrier including a fine male were seen today along with usual Sparrowhawk including a big female and several Common Buzzard.
A single Redshank was seen on the edge of the Mere along with a juvenile Common Gull among 500 Black headed Gulls.
Other wildlife included Both Southern Hawker and Common Darter dragonflies
