Recent Sightings 4th December 2023
For the first count of December this year we’ve been greeted with a pair of beautiful Pintail ducks on the Main Lake! Pintail (pictured) are very graceful, elegant looking dabbling ducks, which feed mainly on plant matter. They are more commonly seen throughout the winter months, distinguished by their long tail feathers and slender necks.
Greenshank were seen in the Wadermarsh and the Saline Lagoon, feeding on small invertebrates and fish alongside Redshank. Greenshank have long, pale green legs as opposed to the Redshank which sports, unsurprisingly, bright red legs! Both these waders are actually types of large Sandpiper, and can often be found on coastal wetlands, estuaries, mudflats and marshes. They both have easily recognizable, piping calls which they’ll make whilst they’re flying.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Black-headed gull 4, Light-bellied brent goose 100, Curlew 3, Oystercatcher 23, Hooded crow 2, Herring gull 5, Lesser black-backed gull 1
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Grey heron 1, Mallard 184, Teal 76, Gadwall 20, Moorhen 5, Pintail 2, Tufted duck 4, Coot 1, Blue tit, Coal tit
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Teal 3, Mallard 4, Moorhen 3
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Redshank 2, Greenshank 1, Moorhen 4, Little egret 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Teal 8, Mallard 1
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Little egret 1, Little grebe 5, Greenshank 2, Redshank 1
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Little egret 1
Brickworks
Robin
Woodland
Robin, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Great tit, Wood pigeon, Magpie, Blue tit
