Garganey
A male Garganey on Woodend Marsh yesterday before moving on to the Mere briefly was our first record for the year of this handsome duck.
It was present again on Woodend Marsh today, where 40+ Avocets with at least 9 chicks as of this morning can also be seen. Around the reserve, waders included 4 Ruff (1 male), 1 Dunlin, 4 Redshanks, 2 Ringed Plover, 4 Little Ringed Plover and a pair of Oystercatchers.
A female Cuckoo was seen from the United Utilities hides, and males have been heard calling on several occasions from the area around the Harrier Hide. At least one Barn Owl was hunting over the reserve this morning.
Lots of wildfowl around, with Gadwall and Shoveller showing particularly well on the Mere and a female Pochard with 2 chicks was on Woodend. The first Black-headed Gull chicks have also hatched with at least 9 today in close to 300 active nests.
