Spring rarities at WWT centres
As spring has progressed we’ve been seeing an increasing number of rare bird visitors to our reserves.
The months of April and May are great for spotting returning migrants from Africa and other hot climes. Birds are also busy singing to attract mates and building nests and are in full colourful plumage. It’s a superb time to be outside seeing what you can spot!
Among our most interested visitors so far this spring is a white-spotted bluethroat at our Welney centre – an infrequent visitor to the UK which, if it is seen, doesn’t usually stay and hold territory.
This male also spent last summer at the centre and we’re pleased that he is returned. It would be even better if he was able to attract a mate.
At our Llanelli centre a drake blue-winged teal appeared in mid-April and then at the end of the month as well.
Blue-winged teal are an American species that usually breed in central North America and migrate to central South America in the winter. It is only the second time this distinctive duck has visited the centre – the previous time was in 2002.
London has also had some exciting visitors over the past month – notably a marsh harrier and a kingfisher at the start of April, and a nightingale in the middle of the month.
A honey buzzard was spotted on 18 April, and an avocet on 19 April.
Slimbridge has enjoyed a nuimber of rare sightings, including - from the end of March - a marsh harrier, red kites, a cattle egret, a great white egret, two light-bellied and one dark-bellied brent geese.
A lesser scaup remained until 26 April and up to two male Garganey were seen throughout the month - one was still at the centre at the start of May.
In late April and May the Arctic bound wader migration was particularly spectacular with bar-tailed godwits mostly but also grey plover, red knot, turnstone, sanderling, dunlin and ringed plover. Two wood sandpipers were also spotted.
At Arundel a little crake was showing well in the reed beds in mid April and there was also a pair of bearded tits sighted (not seen at Arundel since 2003, so a rarity for the centre).
Martin Mere saw some black-winged stilts passing through at the end of April – they only stuck around for a day before moving on, but plenty of visitors got to see these leggy waders.
