Wetland Bird Survey - August 2019

Most of the bird life on the reserve at the moment is congregating on Phase 3 and viewable from the perimeter footpath. Parts of the area can also be seen from the new seasonal trail that was opened on Monday. The trail will be open until the winter, when it'll be closed off to give the flocks of wintering wildfowl the space and lack of disturbance that they require. The trail is a there-and-back-again walk, finishing at the Central Plateau, which provides excellent views out across the site. If you walk from the Beach Hut past the 360 Viewing Screen and then keep going a short distance, you'll come to a gateway which marks the start of the seasonal trail.

33 species were picked up on the latest Wetland Bird Survey. With star species being the semi-regular great white egret, early pintail and goldeneye and the lone turnstone. A marsh harrier has also been reported recently... and this is the highest number of Egyptian geese ever recorded on a WeBS count at Langford.

Green sandpipers and lapwing ©Stuart Carlton. Twitter @StuartCarlton48