The weather of the past few days has improved greatly after the storm, and many wildlife sightings have also been recorded. From the United Utilities hide on Wednesday, 1 Bittern was seen. These elusive birds are present all year round and even breed during the Spring months, but they are usually secretive and thus rarely found.
Today on the mere, 1 Ring-Necked Duck has been observed every day for the past month, and is still visible today, usually with Mallards on the mere. Most easily viewed from Discovery hide, this North American diving duck looks similar to our native male Tufted Ducks, though there are several differences if the two are closely compared. Other birds seen on the mere recently include 14 Cormorants, 1 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 1 Great Black-Backed Gull, 1 Marsh Harrier female, 12 Stock Doves, 1 Buzzard, 1 Stonechat male, 1 Skylark, and our many overwintering wildfowl such as Pochard, Wigeon, Gadwall, Shovelers, Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Shelducks, Pintail, and Teal.
Over at Janet Kear hide, a large flock of around 44 Redwings was seen flying above the hide and eating berries in the trees. These social thrushes only come here in the Winter, making now the best time to see them. 2 Treecreepers and 1 Cetti's Warbler were also seen from this hide today.
At Harrier hide, 1 Water Rail was heard calling from the reedbed. These birds, much like Bittern, are very elusive, and are most often identified by their loud, pig-like squealing calls. 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Common Gull, 1 Snipe, and 2 Herring Gulls were also seen from Harrier hide today.
Photograph of a Redwing.
