Happy Friday Afternoon.
Anyone checking out the visitor centre this week who spared a glance out the window could have seen this weeks star guest... a Great White Egret! This week he/she has been mostly feeding on the edge of the reeds. Once you'd got over that you stood a chance to see a Cuckoo, 1 Fieldfare, up to 3 Garganey (displaying), 2 Arctic Terns, 2 Common Terns, 1 Canada Goose, 2 Little Gulls, 1 Wood Sandpiper, a Marsh Harrier and multiple Osprey Sightings most days. Other birds of no less importance included 1 Dunlin, 2 Pairs of Gadwall 1 Pair of Shelduck, 8 Tufted Ducks and 1 Lapwing.
Lots of stuff out in front of Tower Pool Hide this week including a Short-eared Owl and a Marsh Harrier seen on the 16th as were both Ospreys, with individuals being seen on the 10th and 11th also. In addition to 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 3 Little Gulls and 10 Swift, Garganey have been seen here everyday almost with the high number of 4 (3 males and 1 female). Other birds seen up tower pool way this week include 1 Common Tern, 1 Shelduck, 1 pair of Gadwall, 4 Dunlin, 2 White Wagtail, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Moorhen, 2 Coot and 44 Curlew. Those so secretive as to be heard rather than seen include 1 Water Rail, 1 Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Sedge Warblers.
Been down to Bay Hide this week? Those who did had the chance to see the Great White Egret regularly since the 14th as well as up to 10 Swift everyday. Last weekend was busy also with an Osprey, 1 pair of Garganey, 1 Pair of Great Crested Grebes, 1 Pair of Gadwall and 1 pair of Shovelers. Round the way at Fen Hide visitors got a nice if somewhat more distant view of the Great White Egret fishing amongst the reeds at the rear of the loch. An Osprey was seen flying past with a fish for its tea to an audience of around 40 Pink Footed Geese, likely just filling the tanks for their flight to Iceland, Lesser and Greater Black Backed Gulls with 2 Sedge Warblers singing away out in front of the hide.
Lots around this week including a few big names and firsts for the year.
Cool relevant pic coming soon..
Iain