Wader-fest
Last of the winter blast today hopefully as slightly milder condition set in. The next 6 weeks are some of the most exciting in the birding calendar and over the past 6 years have produced rarities such as White-spotted Bluethroat, Montagu's Harrier, Red-necked Phalarope, Temmnick's Stint, Common Crane, Glossy Ibis, Spotted Crake and White-winged Black Tern.
Today was all about waders with the first Greenshank of the year spending time out on Woodend Marsh. Twelve species in total today with a good count of 22 Whimbrel in the afternoon, 8 Dunlin, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ringed Plover, 10+ Black-tailed Godwit, 10+ Redshank, 8 Oystercatcher, 40+ Avocet, 20+ Lapwing, 4+ Common Snipe and Common Sandpiper.
We can expect a few more new wader species in the next few weeks too including Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper and possibly Spotted Redshank, Knot, Turnstone and Sanderling.
Other noteworthy species today included Common Tern on the Mere and a pair of Mistle Thrush near the overflow carpark.
