Recent Sightings 17th April 2023
Out on the Main Lake this morning was a solo female Goldeneye and several very active and gregarious Black-headed gulls. Goldeneyes are diving ducks, and they feed on aquatic invertebrates, amphibians and small fish. They have a very striking golden eye and the male has iridescent plumage his head.
A pair of Linnet (pictured) where spotted on the Brickworks, collecting nesting material and feeding together. Linnet are mainly a farmland bird, and like many passerines which depend on agricultural land, their numbers have been declining over recent years. However, conservation strategies are being put in place to promote more wildlife-friendly farming and to provide these species with the habitats they need to survive. These little birds are an attractive mixture of brown and pink, and feed on seeds – their name, linnet, being derived from the word linseed, which is a type of Flax.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Black-headed gull 7, Great crested grebe 7, Red-breasted merganser 7, Shelduck 11, Oystercatcher 162
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mallard 13, Black-headed gull 18, Cormorant 1, Goldeneye 1, Moorhen 2, Teal 2, Gadwall 2
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Black-headed gull 174, Teal 2, Knot 62, Cormorant 1, Black-tailed godwit 861
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Redshank 2, Moorhen 1, Black-headed gull 49, Shelduck 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Gadwall 4, Moorhen 4, Lesser black-backed gull 1, Teal 6, Black-headed gull 35, Mallard 8
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Black-headed gull 2
Peninsular Saltmarsh
Light-bellied brent goose 1, Shelduck 2, Lesser black-backed gull 2, Meadow pipit 1
Peninsular Field
Hooded crow 1, Wood pigeon 1
Brickworks
Blackbird 1, Jackdaw 3, Linnet 2, Goldfinch 2
Limestone Lake
Wood pigeon 2
Woodland
Blackbird, Goldcrest, Wren, Wood pigeon, Robin, Blue tit, Coal tit, Mallard, Moorhen, Chiffchaff, Magpie
