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It's a wet one
The forecast is for rain all day today, but there is still some great birding to be done.
The forecast is for rain all day today, but there is still some great birding to be done. We're managing numbers in our hides to ensure they remain safe in these unusual times, along with regular cleaning.
Decoy Hide
The Little Grebe was on the pond with 6 Tufted Duck this morning. It's partner may well be tucked just out of sight on a nest. A Tawny Owl was being mobbed by passerines and eventually it flushed from roost near the South Pipe and flew towards the Decoy Wood.
Rushy Hide
Two Little-ringed Plover were on the back of the lower pond this morning with a Green Sandpiper and the first fledgling Black-headed Gull. The unseasonal Female Pintail was again on the upper pond, but she'll have to wait a bit longer for the wheelbarrow to come around.
Estuary Tower
A Black Tern was seen over the river this morning by our volunteer John.
Kingfisher Hide
A male and female Roe Deer were in the Bottom New Piece field this morning. No sign in the rain of the Crane family, but they are most likely sheltering until the weather passes.
Zeiss Hide
A total of 71 Avocet were on the scrape with 17 Redshank, a pair of Oystercatcher, two Grey Heron, 16 Shoveler, 30 Teal, 85 Gadwall, a Little-ringed Plover flitting between the islands and a flock of 13 Black-tailed Godwit. Breeding duck included a brood eight new Shelducklings and a brood of five new Shoveler ducklings.
South Lake
We still have two Little-ringed Plover sat on nests, both in nest cages with one from Discovery Hide and one on the Duck Marsh from the Hogarth Hide. Also present were 48 adult Avocet on wader scrape with numerous chicks of varying ages. A Little Grebe was on the deep lake with the moulting Gadwall flock.
