Monthly sightings summary - May 2022

After such a good April it was going to be hard to keep up the pace of sightings during May. However there were still some unusual sightings around the reserve headlined by a group of 7 Glossy Ibis which called in on 26th. Other sightings of note:

• Bar-tailed Godwit - on on Ferry on 1st
• Goldeneye - late male on Moore on 1st
• Little Ringed Plover - two on Moore on 1st
• Yellow Wagtail - 3 along entrance road on 2nd
• Corn Bunting - one along entrance road on 2nd
• Wood Sandpiper - 2 on Ferry on 3rd
• Greenshank - one on Ferry on 3rd
• Arctic Tern - two on Moore on 3rd
• Nightingale - one heard at Elney on 4th
• Grasshopper Warbler - one still reeling on Middle Fen on 5th
• Little Tern - one on Ferry on 6th
• Wheatear - one along entrance road on 7th
• Avocet - 4 on Moore on 7th
• Red-crested Pochard - male on Moore on 7th
• Cattle Egret - 5 on Ferry on 10th
• Shelduck - one at Ferry on 11th
• Hobby - 5 over Holywell on 12th
• Tawny Owl - 2 juveniles by Drayton on 14th (expertly found by one of the Wildlife Explorers group, see photo attached)
• Ringed Plover - 3 on Ferry at 19th
• House Martin - 40 over Elney on 25th
• Wigeon - late pair on Ferry on 25th

Things will start to quieten down in June as our established breeders raise young. Look out for feeding flights from Bitterns as we hope they have got young somewhere! At this time they can be seen as often as hourly as they search for food.