It's a wet one

A grey start turned to a wet lunchtime today, but there are still plenty of birds on offer from the shelter of the hides

A grey start turned to a wet lunchtime today, but there are still plenty of birds on offer from the shelter of the hides. Amongst the highlights this morning was the adult Little Gull on the Rushy, before moving off to the South Lake, and a newly arrived Spoonbill.

Rushy Hide
The adult Little Gull was loafing with a flock of 119 Black-headed Gull on the lower pond this morning. Also of note were four Avocet, the pair of Little Ringed Plover, a Redshank and a pair of Oystercatcher. The Crane pair, Kia & Chocolo, are back on the island on the upper pond and have laid a replacement egg this morning. Mid-morning saw a Spoonbill fly over the Rushy before heading back towards the Tack Piece. This is a different bird from that we saw at the weekend.

South Lake
A quiet wader scrape this morning with 60 Avocet roosting along with five Black-tailed Godwit. A pair of Oystercatcher were on the causeway outside the Discovery Hide, a drake Shoveler was on the back of the deep lake which also held five Cormorant, a Great Crested Grebe and six Tufted Duck.

Grounds
A flock of 56 Tufted Duck were on the Big Pen outside the visitor centre, and a pair of Oystercatcher were on the lawn towards Wellyboot Lane. A flock of five Fieldfare flew over calling. A drake Pochard is with the captive Redheads in the exhibit.

Decoy Hide
There are singing Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap from the boardwalk this morning.

Martin Smith Hide
A Great Egret was fishing in the pool close to the hide this morning, before flying north.

Robbie Garnett Hide
We're bringing the water levels down here on the Tack Piece ready for the breeding season and summer grazing. The lower water levels attracted 16 Avocet, 45 Shoveler, with a three drake Pintail and five Wigeon also noted.

Zeiss Hide
One of the Glossy Ibis was outside the Van de Bovenkamp Hide this morning, the second was in the fields next to the canal and cattle barns. Also of note were 26 Black-tailed Godwit, three Ruff, two Redshank, 55 Avocet, and a second calendar year Mediterranean Gull Our Crane pair here, Oakie & Sherbert were on the nesting island.

Kingfisher Hide
The pair of Kingfishers were busy again at the nesting hole this morning. Over on the Bottom New Piece were two Mediterranean Gull with 230 Black-headed Gulls.

• Share this article