Still good weather for ducks

25 May 2021

Recent Sightings from 17^th to 23^rd May

We are heading for the wettest May on record in a month, a time when the wildlife can usually expect some relief from persistent rain. Despite the challenge there have been plenty of wildlife sightings. It is peak breeding season and there is food to find and chicks to feed.

Ducks and geese of course are not phased by a bit of wet weather with tufted ducks as usual spending time in pairs on the lagoons. Coots and little grebes with young to feed are also very active. Canada geese have been fairly vocal this week (what’s new) and there is a family still wandering around close to the visitor centre, their chicks have grown quite a lot since we last saw them. Wetland's dwellers, little egrets and grey herons have also been seen daily. Along the foreshore, particularly at high tide we have had sightings of oystercatcher, curlew, whimbrel, dunlin and shelduck.

Photo credit - Mallard chick (Sarah Parmor)

Photo credit - Grey heron stalking prey (Sarah Parmor)

It’s not all grey clouds and stormy weather, it is May after all and when the sun does make an appearance it has been lovely and warm. Perfect feeding conditions for swallows and house martins, swopping and diving across the lagoons. We have also had some damselfly sightings which is a sure sign summer is on its way. The lovely southern marsh orchids are appearing adding a touch of colour.

Photo credit - Male blue-tailed damselfly (Jeremy White)

Photo credit - Female blue-tailed damselfly (Jeremy White)

Photo credit - Southern marsh orchid (Jeremy White)

Things seem to be going well on the bittern front and we are still having sightings of bitterns in flight as well as hearing their famous boom. Cuckoos have been active as well with at three males and a female spotted. We have missed bearded tit sightings this week, but maybe the wet weather is keeping them quiet. It is nice to have an old favourite, the otter make an appearance this week. We have seen otter spraint around the reserve but this is the first sighting in a while.

There is no shortage of activity around the visitor centre either, cuckoo, blackcap and a lesser whitethroat singing from the trees opposite the welcome hut. The lesser whitethroat at one point giving us fabulous views perching on top of the hut! We also have a regular visitor at the hut, a male blackbird with a couple of distinctive white patches on his face. He is quickly becoming a favourite with the team and doesn't seem to mind the wet weather at all.

Photo credit - Lesser whitethroat (Jeremy White)

Photo credit - 'Trev' the blackbird (Jess Price)

Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Collared, Cormorant, Dove, Coot, Cuckoo, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great tit, Green woodpecker, Grey Heron, Greylag goose, Herring Gull, House martin, Kestrel, Lesser black-backed gull, Lesser whitethroat, Linnet, Little Grebe, Long-tailed tit, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh harrier, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Raven, Reed bunting, Reed Warbler, Robin, Shelduck, Song thrush, Swallow, Swift, Whimbrel, Whitethroat, Woodpigeon, Wren

Blue-tailed damselfly, Drinker moth caterpillar, Otter, Rove beetle, Southern marsh orchid, Stoat, Weasel

Please note that we take our recent sightings list from the visitor sightings board that anyone can contribute to. This is great as everyone can get involved, but obviously can lead to potential errors too as they aren’t always verified! We try to keep this list as accurate as possible but if you see something unusual feel free to comment here!

Visitor Information

The car park is open 9am to 5pm and the charge is £3.00. Please pay (cash or card) at the welcome hut. There is no charge for RSPB members, please remember to bring your membership card to collect a free car parking token. The visitor centre is open for access to toilets (9am-5pm) cafe and shop (10am-4pm) and access to the reserve is via the Perry Lane gate by the welcome hut. The play area is closed. Dog walking is permitted on the dog walking route only (follow the signs) and please have dogs on leads at all times as there are ground nesting birds and wildlife all over the reserve. Thank you.