Bluethroat !
Bluethroat
A quick check of Middle Point whilst passing this morning revealed a few passerines, two Whinchat were being harassed by Reed buntings, a couple of Reed Warblers were calling, two Blue Tit and a Chiffchaff fed in the reeds but best of all was a smart moulting male Bluethroat that appeared atop the reeds for a minute. It was viewable from the Shepherds Hut Hide on the seawall. Probably best to try to view it from here for the best chance of seeing it, if trying your luck please refrain from using playback recordings. Early opening for WWT members from 0815am to 0930am, use normal admissions via the ramp from 0930am.
If coming in earlier, please have your membership card ready for checking, thank you.
Video of the bird here
https://twitter.com/i/status/1434786377313423364
Other sightings included the following.
Middle Point/Dumbles saltmarsh
Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper and three Sanderling flew past S with a flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plover-all headed to the saltmarsh, seven juvenile Turnstone, 3 Oystercatcher and 6 Ruff in with the Curlew/Shelduck/ gull roost + 13 L Egret and the immature Spoonbill on the shore.
Top New Piece
Two Great White Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 500+ Teal, 12 Wigeon, 18 Shoveler, 2 juvenile Ruff with the Lapwing flock. A Bittern was showing from the Van de Bovenkamp Hide.
Bottom New Piece
Ross' Goose with the Barnacle Geese
Rushy Hide
Now three adult Spotted Redshank roosting on the islands with 4 Greenshank, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Avocet, 17 Redshank and 2 Snipe + 30 Gadwall, flocks of Teal.
Knott Hide
Juvenile Ruff, 7 Snipe, 2 Little Egret, juvenile Black-tailed Godwit on the Pill Box Pool, a few Reed Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff.
Middle Point- 2 Whinchat, 4+ Reed Bunting, 2 Reed Warblers.
South Lake
26 Ruff (min of 37 on site today), 4 Avocet, a Greenshank, 2 Snipe, c50 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Green Sandpiper, c60 Teal, c30 Lapwing as well as the duck flocks, Cormorants, Canada and Grelag Geese, Yellow Wagtail with the Pied Wagtails.
A Glossy Ibis was seen to arrive from the NE and settled on the wader scrape for a time today.
Marsh Tit seen at the North end of the reserve, very scarce these days.
