Recent Sightings (21st-26th April)
Grounds and British Steel Hide
A smart 1st-summer Little Gull has been frequenting the freshwater lagoon since the 23rd April. 22 Black-tailed Godwits, 11 Gadwall and 3 Shoveler were present along with 552 Black-headed Gulls. Counts from the steel hide include 30 Redshank, 2 Spoonbills, 139 Black-tailed Godwits, a Lapwing, 2 Curlew, 2 Mute Swans, 34 Greylag Geese, 1 Peregrine, 15 Gadwall, a drake Pintail and a Wigeon.
Millennium Wetlands
Wader counts from the British Steel Hide have included 734 Black-tailed Godwits, 10 Knot and c.15 Redshank. An summer-plumage adult Little Gull was seen flying around the Deep Water Lake on the 23rd. 5 Mediterranean Gulls are providing fantastic views from the Peter Scott Hide, as well as hundreds of Black-headed Gulls, some of which are now sat on eggs. With the wildfowl so spread out now, as they find their own territories for the breeding season, it's tricky to count them, but 10 Tufted Ducks, 1 Pochard, 5 Gadwall and a Coot were viewable from the Peter Scott Hide.
Other Wildlife
A nice selection of butterfly species have been seen on the reserve recently including: Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells. Orange-tips, Green-veined Whites, a Common Blue, Speckled Woods and a Brimstone.
