May was a fantastic month, not just weather-wise, but also with a number of interesting visitors that arrived on the reserve.
The distinctive call of a cuckoo was heard and a scaup and a flock of 40 whimbrel were also seen at the beginning of the month.
Cuckoo
Scaup
Whimbrel
Towards the end of May, a Marsh Harrier and Black-tailed Godwit were spotted.
Marsh harrier
Black-tailed godwit
We've also had encouraging sightings of the osprey, (first seen in April), with staff, volunteers and visitors keeping their fingers firmly crossed that we'll have a breeding pair in years to come.
Osprey
Other birds recorded in May:
Little grebeGreat crested grebeCormorantGrey heronMute swanGreylag gooseCanada gooseTealMallardShovelerPochardTufted duckScaupGoldeneyeGoosanderMarsh harrierSparrowhawkBuzzardOspreyKestrelPheasantWater railMoorhenCootOystercatcherLapwingSnipeBlack-tailed godwitWhimbrelCurlewCommon sandpiperBlack-headed gullLesser black-backed gullHerring gullWood pigeonCollared doveCuckooSwiftKingfisherGreat spotted woodpeckerSand martinSwallowHouse martinGrey wagtailPied wagtailDipperWrenDunnockRobinBlackbirdSong thrushGrasshopper warblerSedge warblerWhitethroatGarden warblerBlackcapChiffchaffWillow warblerGoldcrestSpotted flycatcherLong-tailed titCoal titBlue titGreat titNuthatchTreecreeperMagpieJackdawRookCarrion crowRavenStarlingHouse sparrowChaffinchGreenfinchGoldfinchSiskinLesser redpollBullfinchReed bunting