Recent Sightings 5th June 2023
There was a nice variety of birds to see out on the Main Lake this morning, from the tiny, diving Little grebe to the large, impressive Mute swans. The Shelduck family held center stage though with their 8 shelducklings! The Shelduck (pictured) is one of the UK’s largest ducks, making it a formidable parent as it chases off other birds and keeps very protective of its offspring.
The nesting Swallows greet you as you enter the Roundhouse, then fly above the Crannog displaying their amazing aerial skills and catching insects on the wing. You’ll also see them swooping low over the Main Lake and Limestone Lake for a drink as they speed past.
Two Mediterranean gulls were seen on the Shingle Bank, in amongst the Black-headed gulls and roosting Oystercatcher. These gulls were once rare to spot in the UK, but now they can commonly be seen within Black-headed gull colonies.
Estuary - visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Black-headed gull 39, Black-tailed godwit 34, Common gull 2, Lesser black-backed gull 2, Little egret 3, Eider 12 (loads of ducklings), Great crested grebe 3, Grey heron 1, Herring gull 3
Main lake - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Teal 1, Little grebe 1, Tufted duck 2, Mallard 34, Shoveler 2, Mute swan 2, Shelduck 2 (8 ducklings), Black-headed gull 12, Greylag goose 4, Gadwall 6, Coot 1, Moorhen 1, Black-tailed godwit 1, Swallow 2
Shingle Bank - visible from Sensory garden and Visitor Centre
Mediterranean gull 2, Black-tailed godwit 60, Oystercatcher 220, Black-headed gull 92
Wadermarsh - visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Mallard 1, Black-headed gull 122, Black-tailed godwit 1
Freshwater Lagoon - visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Mallard 4, Coot 1, Moorhen 2, Shelduck 2, Black-tailed godwit 4, Shoveler 2, Gadwall 1 (8 ducklings), Black-headed gull 83, Sedge warbler
Saline Lagoon - visible from Limekiln observatory
Black-headed gull 37, Blackbird, Blue tit
Peninsula Saltmarsh
Black-headed gull 2, Shelduck 1, Black-tailed godwit 1, Herring gull 1
Peninsula Field
Blackbird, House martin, Song thrush, Meadow pipit, Swallow
Brickworks
Jackdaw, Blue tit, Goldfinch, Swallow
Limestone Lake
Black-headed gull 13, Greylag goose 2 (1 gosling)
Woodland
Robin, Blackcap, Blackbird, Blue tit, Wood pigeon, Hooded crow, Song thrush, Wren
