Recent Sightings 18th-24th September
Highlights: Curlew Sandpipers, Ruff, Spoonbill and flocks of wintering Ducks
British Steel hide & the grounds
Sightings from the marsh scrapes this week have included up to six Curlew Sandpipers, these lovely waders can often be seen feeding very close to the boardwalk hide as well. Up to seven Ruff and two Green Sandpipers often afford good views from the boardwalk hide also. A Spoonbill has been seen occassionally, usually during the morning or at high tide. Numbers of ducks have been increasing too with 144 Wigeon, 39 Shoveler, 8 Pintail and 355 Teal counted on the 24th. The wader flocks in front of the British Steel Hide have included Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank, Knot, Dunlin and Greenshank.
Millennium Wetlands
Kingfishers have been frequent on the perches in front of the Peter Scott Hide this week, with sightings there most days. Snipe have started using the stone islands (from the Peter Scott Hide) as a roosting site along with the Lapwing and a variety of ducks. A Lesser Whitethroat was on the reserve on the 24th as well as 15 Blackcaps and a flock of 20 Long-tailed Tits. A recent Water Vole survey uncovered a lots of field signs along the edges of the ditches and pools on the reserve, always incredibly tricky to spot though!
