As the long march of January has past us by there are a number of birds that have been making more active appearances on the reserve as we’re well into the new year. Today we celebrate World Wetland day so we’ve been paying a little more attention towards the wetland species that call our reedbeds and saltmarsh home.
Wetland specialists have been sighted frequently throughout the colder months. Shelduck, Teal, Pochard, Gadwall and Wigeon have been seen together out on the foreshore, representing our nicely founded list of local duck species. The sounds of water rail burst out of the reeds, a whooping 74 water rail have been recorded on the reserve!
From the Wader’s corner, Knot, the ever-impressive Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, and flocks of Dunlin thousands strong have all been seen with the receding tides, as well as Oystercatchers, with their rather long beaks and equally orange long legs.
Black-tailed godwit, Dunlin and Oystercatcher by Jeremy White
Canada Geese have been pairing up for the fast-approaching spring, and the V formations of Greylags that accompany them have added to the chorus of honking heard some evenings overhead.
A healthy variety of Raptors have also been keeping up with appearances, most notably a recent sighting of a female Hen Harrier skirting our shoreline. After confirmation through photograph ID, normally they would be more commonly seen a little further West according to some guidebooks, however it does make sense that it could be seen here.
Photo by Jeremy White
Photo by Blake Marlow
The Marsh Harrier has been ever-present, whether its in broad daylight hovering over the reedbeds or dive-bombing the murmuration as they are happening. Sparrowhawks are equally visible rocketing down Perry Lane or chasing the Starlings.
The Kestrel, a more elusive passer-by, has been seen mostly down on the foreshore or flying low alongside it, and to top it off, the Peregrine has also been spotted a couple of times over the far end of the reserve towards the power station.
As for two of our star residents, the Bittern is being sighted making low flights across the water and reedbeds, and in the coming few weeks we might be so lucky as to start hearing its trademark “Boom” as Spring blooms around us. The Kingfisher has remained with us throughout these colder months and hopefully should continue to do so until she decides to away to her summer home before returning next winter. During that time however, the Kingfisher is ever ready to be spotted either just outside of the Café, overlooking the water, or along the smaller waterways looking for tasty morsels.
Photo by Ieuan Evans
The starlings have been murmurating all month long, we expect them to leave any day now. After two months of roosting in the one reedbed, they have taken up recidence elsewhere on the reserve for fresh reeds and a different view from the roost!
Recent Sightings 16/01/24- 03/02/24
Avocet, Bearded reedling, Bittern, Blackbird, Blackcap, Black-headed gull, Black-tailed Godwit, Blue tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Canada goose, Carrion crow, Cetti's warbler, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Collared dove, Common gull, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Feral pigeon, Fieldfare, Gadwall, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great spotted woodpecker, Great tit, Green woodpecker, Greenfinch, Grey heron, grey plover, Greylag goose, Guillemot, hen Harrier, Herring gull, House sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Kestrel, Kingfisher, Knot, Lapwing, Lesser black-backed gull, Little egret, Little grebe, Long-tailed tit, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh harrier, Meadow pipit, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute swan, Oystercatcher, Peregrine falcon, Pheasant, Pied wagtail, Pintail, Raven, Redshank, Redwing, Reed bunting, Robin, Rock pipit, Rook, Shelduck, Shoveler, Siskin, Snipe, Song thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Stonechat, teal, Treecreeper, Tufted duck, Turnstone, Water rail, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren, Red admiral butterfly, Brown rat, Fox, Grey squirrel, Otter, Rabbit, Stoat, Weasel, Wood mouse.