Sightings

Main sighting: Hybrid mallards

Two male hybrid mallards with white bibs and brown bodies. probably the same two birds that visited this time last year. Very attractive birds and nice to see with their normal cousins.

Main sighting: Long tailed duck

Marsh Harrier (fem) – good numbers of Avocet (20+) + Blk tailed godwit (20+)
Spotted Redshank Unfortunately two people two people walked along the back of the reserve and put every thing up, muddy conditions very difficult. I only went as far as the Snipe platform, where the Long Tailed duck was……….

Main sighting: Curlew

Heard the curlew call whilst riding a bike towards Newchurch and Devauden travelling east. Saw a single curlew fly overhead south of the lane. Returned two hours later with husband Andy and walked on the field footpath south. We heard the curlew again and saw it fly northwards

Main sighting: Chiffchaffs

En-route to hides – chaffinch, magpies, crows, wren, gt tits, blackbirds, pheasant, chiffchaff in full song, herring gulls, woodpigeons, cettis, ls black-backed gulls, light-morph buzzard, collard doves and gt spotted woodpecker. Hide one – Canada geese, pair of marsh harriers, 62 black-tailed godwits, 2 herons, 1 lt egret, 62 teal, 65 wigeon, 2 oystercatchers, 2 pairs lapwing, 56 avocet, 22 shoveler, skylarks, 23 redshanks, 4 coot, 14 gadwall, 2 swans, 24 greylags, mallards, 2 cormorants and a raven. En-route to hide 2 – 2 fieldfares, goldcrest, moorhen, 2nd chiffchaff, robin, 11 starlings with a single redwing mixed in. Hide two – stonechat pair, goldfinch and 2 snipe. En-route to platform – male reed bunting in full song. Snipe platform – long tailed duck, blue tits, 4 male and 4 female tufteds and 2 lt grebes. Hide three – 29 curlew (very high tide so the salt marsh was covered), 62 shelduck, 1 ringed plover, meadow pipits, pied wagtail and 2 more egrets.

Main sighting: Chiff chaff

First chiffchaff of the year.. also mistle thrush s nest almost complete

Main sighting: siskin

Increasing numbers of siskins at the feeders with a flock of @ 60 birds in the area and at least 20 visiting the sunflower hearts at a time.
Also goshawk over devauden midday

Main sighting: Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap!

Main sighting: Siskin

Amazed to count at least 25 Siskin round my feeders this morning.

Main sighting: Colour ringed avocets

En-route to hides – crows, woodpigeons, magpies, pheasant, robin, Canada geese, herring gulls and 7 fieldfares. Hide one – mallards, skylarks, 183 black-tailed godwits, 60 avocet (2 colour ringed – upper left green / right leg YA and 2nd bird upper left H9), 29 redshanks, 31 teal, 68 wigeon, 2 lt egrets, 9 shoveler, 2 pairs lapwing, coot, male stonechat, spotted redshank, heron, male marsh harrier (1st or 2nd yr bird). Hide two – 1 cormorant, 3 snipe, 4 shelduck, greylags, wren and moorhen. Snipe platform – 5 male and 3 female tufteds. En-route to seawall – dunnock, gt and blue tits and cettis. Hide three – oystercatchers, 12 gadwall, goldfinch, 16 more shoveeler, 56 more teal, 42 more wigeon, female marsh harrier, long-tailed duck, starling and 2 gt black-backed gulls.

Main sighting: Goldeneye

Numerous sites visited – BOAT LANE: jay, blue tits, gt tits, robin, jackdaws, moorhen, herring gulls, wren, crows, mallards, 6 wigeon, 2 skylarks displaying, magpies, long tailed tit, Canada geese, meadow pipits, cettis, 9 greylags, ls black-backed gulls, 1 cormorant, 2 herons, 3 curlew, 5 linnets, 2 female stonechats and a further pair later on, woodpigeons, fem marsh harrier, 2 stock doves, 2 redshanks, 2 snipe, 1 lapwing, 7 shelduck, 4 oystercatchers, 2 swans, chiffchaff contact call, song thrush, male kestrel, coot, house sparrows and chaffinches. SEAWALL: 1 lt egret, crows, magpies, 4 curlew, 41 wigeon, 8 turnstone, 5 oystercatchers, shelduck, cettis, 31 greylags sat in the field and a robin. GOLDCLIFF POINT: 19 more wigeon and 19 avocet. FIELDS (near Uskmouth) male kestrel, herring, ls black-backed and black headed gulls, blackbirds, woodpigeons, blue tit, song thrushes, jay, crows, chiffchaff feeding and 2 swans. FARMFIELD LANE: 2 males and 1 female goldeneye flying over. CHAPEL ROAD: approx 100 redwings and fieldfares feeding with around 30 starlings mixed in.

Main sighting: Great White Egret

Egret foraging along the edges of the pond throughout the time of my visit (12.15 – 12.30). Flew up twice, briefly landed on the floating island with a Cormorant before returning to the shoreline.

Main sighting: Spotted Redshank

Spotted Redshank seen from the first hide. Flock of 18 Avocets flew off to feed on the mudflats. Braved the quagmire to reach the seawall hide and was rewarded by good views of the long-staying female Long-tailed Duck which spent most of its time under water.