Sightings and news to week ending 18 May
Avocets began to hatch on the South Lake last week, the usual territorial arguments occur with regular disputes between Shelducks and Avocets (picture- MJM) noted. Carrion Crows have been repeatedly trying their luck with a robust response from the tight knit colony, a few chicks have already been predated, despite this we hope the fledging success is high. We have around 35 nests yet to hatch. Another six Avocet nests are situated on the Rushy among 15 nesting Black-headed Gulls.
South Finger and Grounds
Cuckoo singing but mobile between tallest treetops. Five Reed Warbler singing in the Matrix and Goldcrest singing at the Otter enclosure and South Finger gate.
Duck Decoy
Kingfishers feeding young and resting on branch outside of the nest hole.
South Lake
Redshank, Little-ringed Plover and two Black-tailed Godwits on the scrape among the dominating Avocets, one pair of Oystercatchers have at least two chicks, the pair of Cranes have one chick, 28 male and 10 female Tufted Ducks, two drake Shoveler and a few Gadwall as well as three broods of Mallards.
Top New Piece
Glossy Ibis again today. Two broods of Mallards, two broods of Lapwing, 8 Redshank, a pair of Teal, two drake Shoveler.
Bottom New Piece
Brood of Mallard with nine ducklings.
Middle Point
Late news for yesterday- the Short-eared Owl was hunting the saltmarsh and seawall late afternoon and mid-morning and seen again this morning.
The male White-spotted Bluethroat still singing along with Reed and Sedge Warblers and Reed Buntings. Six Sanderling on the flood tide and a Turnstone past with 5 Grey Plover. Eleven Bar-tailed Godwit on the mud on the ebb tide.
