This week we completed our monthly Wetland Bird Survey across the reserve and we have seen more migrants drop onto the reserve.
Car Park, Visitor Centre & Woodlands
Around the woodland areas, the blackcaps and chiffchaffs continue their song.
On Monday 18 April Lesser whitethroats were heard singing on the east trail where a grasshopper warbler can also be heard.
Red kites, merlin, kestrel, sparrowhawk and buzzards have all been seen flying around and through willow wood at the end of the East Trail.
A pied flycatcher was a new arrival on Thursday 21 April, feeding in the willows at the start of the fen trail.
Chiffchaff, Les Bunyan
Reedbed
Marsh harriers continue to be actively nest building and food passing this week. On Thursday 21 April, a ringtail Hen harrier flew low over the reedbed.
Slightly less active this week have been the two Great white egrets, but they are still around. Reed warbler numbers have increased steadily this week and two Grasshopper warblers have been heard reeling on the Thornham side of the west bank path.
In terms of wildfowl there have been coot, pochard, little grebes, gadwall, mallards, teal and tufted duck.
Gadwall, Les Bunyan
Freshmarsh
On the Freshmarsh a Cattle egret made a brief appearance on Easter Sunday but has not been seen since. Whereas a Temminck’s stint arrived on Easter Monday and is still present today (Thursday 21/4).
Other wader highlights this week have included 70 Avocets, 16 Black-tailed godwits, 6 Ruff, 6 Little ringed plovers, 2 Ringed plovers, Turnstones, Dunlin and Oystercatchers.
A drake Garganey was on the Freshmarsh early morning on Tuesday 17 April and a Wheatear landed on one of the islands on Wednesday 20 April. Around 100 brent geese are still in the area, and regularly drop onto the Freshmarsh for a bath and drink.
Temminck's stint, Nathan Pickering
Volunteer & Tidal Marsh
At high tide on Monday, on the tidal marsh there were Gadwall, Teal, Grey plover, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Avocet, Shoveler, Turnstone, plus dunlin and curlew.
A pair of Stonechat are in the vegetation to the west of Tidal Marsh.
Stonechat, Les Bunyan
Beach and Sea
This week there has been a huge flock of about 4000 common scoter on the sea and as they rise up every so often and fly a short distance, two velvet scoters can be picked out.
Also on the sea this week has been 2 Great northern divers, Eiders, 6 Red-breasted mergansers, 2 Great crested grebes, 3 Fulmar and several Sandwich terns.
On the beach there has been 100+ Oystercatcher, Sanderlings, Turnstones, Ringed plovers and Bar-tailed godwits.
Other sightings
There have also been a small number of Swallows and Sand martins flying through the reserve and a cuckoo was present on the 21/4 and Whinchat at Thornham Point on 18/4
Large red damselflies are emerging around the reedbed and the water voles are becoming more active too.
Report your sightings
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