We have had many sightings of a bittern on Phalarope Pool over the last few days; there has however been no booming heard so we suspect this is either a female or a juvenile male.

A male pintail has been seen from Lin Dike as has a smew, little egrets and oystercatchers have been seen on the flashes.

A water vole was reported to be seen running across the path down at the Cut and on Main bay we have had smew, teal, shoveler, goldeneye, goosander, widgeon, gadwall and tufted ducks not to mention displaying great crested grebes which are always a pleasure to watch as the perform there courtship dances!

Around the visitor centre we have had siskin, redpoll, tree and house sparrow, dunnock, reed bunting, treecreeper and at least three nuthatches. We can confirm this due to some recent ringing activity at the reserve where two nuthatches were rung on over the weekend, a male and a female. The male has a ring on his right leg and the female has one on her left leg which will allow you to identify which is which, an un-rung nuthatch has also been seen since the weekend so we can definitely confirm we have at least three.

Why not pop down to the visitor centre, grab a brew, sit out on the balcony and see if you can see all three?

 

Photo credit: Ben Hall (rspb-images.com)