The arrival of numerous summer migrants has been the main highlight on the reserve over the past few weeks, bringing about a refreshing change from a fairly consistent variety of species that were present over the winter.
With chiffchaffs already singing since mid-February (library photo by Ben Andrew), the next migrants to arrive were not surprisingly sand martin with one individual seen on 11/3 and many over the lagoons since. Swallows were next on 16/3, then the first wheatear was seen along the estuary track on 18/3, while the first whimbrel on 24/3 was perhaps slightly earlier than usual. Willow warblers have been present in good numbers since 30/3, and it’s already proving to be another good year for osprey sightings with individual birds seen flying over the reserve on 31/3, 1/4 and 2/4. A reed warbler appeared on 5/4, while 6/4 saw the first common sandpiper on the deep lagoon, and at least 20 sandwich terns feeding in the estuary at high tide.
Other highlights included a cattle egret seen on the estuary on 30/4 which follows the first records of this species on the reserve last autumn. Great white egret made a re-appearance for the year on 24/3 following an absence since December, and two birds were then present on 4/4. A common scoter was on the estuary on 30/3 when a mandarin was also seen on the shallow lagoon. Meanwhile red kites have been more regular than usual with sightings on nine dates.
Waders have included several sightings of spotted redshank with two present on 23/3 and 24/3. A summer plumaged bar-tailed godwit was noted on 4/4 while black-tailed godwits have been present on several dates with a maximum of eight on 1/4. Greenshank have also made several appearances with a peak of five birds on 25/3, as have knot with a high count also of five on 26/3. A woodcock was also recorded on 5/3.
A pair of great crested grebe have been seen displaying regularly and have built a nest structure on the edge of the deep lagoon (library photo by Ben Andrew), while a third bird has also been present often resulting in some interesting behaviour between the three birds! Merganser have also been seen regularly with a maximum of 15 on 23/3. Some of the other wintering wildfowl species including pochard and wigeon have all but left for the summer, while good numbers of tufted duck and gadwall remain along with a small number of shoveler. Kingfisher have also been noted on four dates.