Today's sightings
Rushy Hide
Spotted Redshank, Spoonbill, Ruff and Curlew Sandpiper all present today with 30 Teal.
*Please note that we are likely to be working in this area over the next week or two to prepare the Rushy Pen for our winter bird visitors (mainly Bewick's Swans and duck species). The final hedge cutting, willow coppicing and pollarding, grass cutting, general repairs to the swan trap, cleaning windows and servicing of the cameras will take place.
We also plan to make further improvements and refurbish some of the islands with a small excavator. One island surface on the top lake is to be stripped and replaced with new gravel and the whole area limed, this is within our usual programme of work to help prevent bird disease risks. If we find time then we'll also carry out repairs to the islands on the lower pond as well as creating a couple of small new islands. It will increase breeding opportunities for some of our birds next year and hopefully encourage a few even closer to the hide.
Completing this work will mean we can then close down the Rushy for the winter (except for wardens feeding) and turn it over to the wintering birds from late October to March and the breeding birds from April to July. The yearly cycle starts again with vegetation cutting work in late June/July to help keep the views open (so visitors can see what is out there) and manage the grassland areas for flora and insects.*
Robbie Garnett Hide
400 Teal, 280 Greylag Geese, 180 Wigeon and 6+ Pintail on the scrape with 6 Ruff and 10 Black-tailed Godwit.
Knott Hide
10+ Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Cetti's Warbler seen here today.
Holden Tower
Marsh Harrier ( anew bird), Wheatear and Stonechat all noted.
Martin Smith Hide
Little Egret and Kingfisher. A few Swallows over the fields.
South Lake
12 Ruff, 108 Shoveler, 37 Black-tailed Godwit, 14 Redshank, 8+ Snipe and 10 Pochard among the highlights today.
Zeiss Hide/Top New Piece
Water Rail, 5 Redshank, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, up to 11 Ruff, 200 Teal and a Snipe.
Kingfisher Hide/Bottom New Piece
12 Curlew, Red-breasted Goose, 150+ Barnacle Geese and 203 Wigeon. A few Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests in the trees.
