Bevies of Whoopers & Gaggles of Geese

We are seeing larger numbers of our migratory wildfowl now. Our peak count for Whooper swans on the Whooper pond for this week was 38 although we probably had days this week with a total of 40+ on the site itself. More Barnacle geese seem to have made it over here as well with a peak of c.2000 this week.

The Whooper pond itself is looking more like its normal busy winter self with Canada geese, Wigeon, Tufted duck, Mallards, Cormorant, Moorhen, Mute swans and of course the Whoopers! We’ve also had sightings of Snipe on the Folly pond. We did have both Marsh and Hen harrier out on the saltmarsh on Tuesday and 521 Shelduck on the saltmarsh too!

11th October

Folly pond

• Little egret
• Lapwing
• Black tailed godwit
• 7 Long tailed tits

Peter Scott Observatory

• Pintail
• 5 Tufted ducks
• 2 Cormorants
• 6 Moorhen
• Whooper swans

Saltcot observatory

• Great white egret
• Marsh harrier (male)
• Hen harrier (female)
• 521 Shelduck
• 1 Raven
• 3 Roe deer
• 78 Golden plover
• 2 Dunlin

Back pond

• 1 Common darter dragonfly

12th October

Peter Scott Observatory

• 22 Whooper swans

13th October

Saltcot Observatory

• Stonechat
• 5 Little egret
• Natterjack toad
• 2 Barn swallows

Folly pond

• Teal
• Wigeon
• Lapwing
• c.30 Northern Shoveler
• c.40 Black tailed godwit
• 2 Little egret
• Black headed gulls
• 15 Whooper swans
• Hen harrier (female)

Newfield hide

• 200+ Barnacle geese
• Jackdaw
• Rook

Peter Scott Observatory

• Tufted ducks
• Whooper swans
• Wigeon
• Mute swans

Paddock screen

• 8 Snipe

14th October

Paddock screen

• 11 Snipe

15th October

Newfield hide

• c. 500 Barnacle geese
• 10 Greylag geese

Campbell hide

• 6 Gadwall (male)
• Northern shoveler
• Teal
• Wigeon
• 3 Roe deer

Teal pond hide

• Black tailed godwit
• 2 Snipe
• 1 Little egret

Saltcot observatory

• 1 Great white egret
• 1 Little egret
• 1 Hen harrier (male)
• 1 Pheasant
• 12 Roe deer
• Barnacle geese
• Great black backed gull

Paddocks

• Redwing

Newfield hide

• 2 Peregrine falcons
• Barnacle geese
• 29 Curlew

Folly pond

• 2 Redshank
• 2 Black tailed godwit

Peter Scott observatory

• 1 Gadwall
• 30+ Whooper swans

Wildlife garden

• Brown hare

Avenue tower

• 6 Little egrets
• Great white egret

Feature photograph; Whooper swan family by Faith Hillier

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