Today's sightings
Spring migrants
Still plenty of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff about the site, late news for yesterday concerns our first singing Sedge Warbler (Canoe trail) of the year and a silent, probably wintering, Blackcap.
Cranes
The Slimbridge reared juvenile and 14+ ringed Great Crane Project birds are still about the site, we are seeing lots of display flights across the reserve as well as hearing the far carrying bugling calls.
Kingfisher Hide
The Kingfisher pair are still visiting the nest holes in the bank. Little Grebe, Coot, Moorhen, Cetti's Warbler and Reed Buntings are also being seen regularly. Lapwing, Redshank, Teal and Gadwall are all to be seen on the marsh.
Holden Tower
Peregrine, Lapwing, Shelduck, Greylag and Canada Geese plus the 20 Avocets all viewable from the Tower. Meadow Pipits and Skylarks are also out on the saltmarsh, the latter in good numbers and often sparring and perched atop tussocks.
South Lake
Four Mediterranean Gulls this morning, two second-summers and two first winter/summers. The Black-headed Gulls are very vocal, new nest sites are being occupied at the South end best viewed from the Hogarth Hide. Three Black-headed Gull and four Avocet (one pair nest building) on the wader scrape along with a few different duck species and Oystercatchers.
Zeiss Hide
29 Avocet on the flood as well as 20 Teal, a collection of large immature gulls (Lesser Black-backed and Herring) and a few Wigeon+ six pairs of Lapwing.
