Recent Sightings 10th-23rd July
Highlights - Great Crested Grebe Chicks, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Shoveler and Teal.
Saline and Freshwater Lagoon
As the breeding season draws to a close, the saline lagoon is becoming a little more typical of autumn time, it seems the birds haven't take any notice of this summer weather! Numbers of waders at high tide are increasing, flocks are mainly comprised of black-tailed godwit but there has been dunlin, greenshank and a spotted redshank too. It's always nice to see the numbers of little egret, cormorant and grey heron increasing. A large flock of canada geese with their fledged young seems to have formed at the back of the scrapes. On the freshwater lagoon there has been more teal and shoveler returning in their eclipsed plumage.
Millennium Wetlands
The highlight this week has to be the great crested grebe chick/s spotted on deep water lake, this is the first time the species has bred here so we are very excited! The strikingly patterned chick/s can be spotted hitching a ride on one of their parents backs while the other adult feeds it... what a life! There are both pochard and shoveler ducklings reaching fledgling age now which is great for these threatened species. Some new insects have been spotted this week including, gatekeeper butterflies, golden ringed dragonflies, magpie moths and alder moth caterpillars... all of which are very beautiful.
