Sightings

Main sighting: Golden Plover

A flock of circa 30 Golden Plover flew over the lagoons sadly they did not land. There were 15 White-fronted Geese and a flock of 55 Curlew on the Goldcliff Pill. It was nice to hear a Chiffchaff singing. There were good numbers of Teal Wigeon Shoveler and a few Gadwall.
Warning the path around the reserve is very muddy, care is needed.

Main sighting: 60+ Snipe

Seven members braved the initial poor weather which soon cleared. Fifty Five species were noted. The highlight being 60+ Snipe hiding in plain sight on a small rough island in the Millenium Wetlands.
Species noted were: Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Spoonbill (3), Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Moorhen, Coot, Avocet, Lapwing, Knot, Dunlin, Snipe (60+), Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Redwing, Song Thrush, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch. and Reed Bunting.

Main sighting: Peregrine and Marsh Harrier

Early morning visit just after dawn. Hight Tide 12 + meters
The lagoons were brimming with water, and it’s quite muddy underfoot, so wellies are a must.
A flock of 30+ Lapwings, Peregrine Falcon, Marsh Harrier ( female), Gadwall, Shoveler, Mallard, Teal, and Tufted Ducks. Lots of Shelduck. Flock of Curlews 40c roosting on Becs disturbed by Marsh Harrier. Priors had the most Coots I have ever seen, at least 30 +.
Both Cettis and Chiff Chaff were present and heard calling.
Other species –
Black-Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Mute Swan, Greylag and Canada Geese. Stonechat, Meadow Pipit and Skylark. Robin. Wren, Blue Tit, Dunnock and Song Thrush.

Main sighting: Red kite

Red kite happy and hovering for atleast 2 minutes watching something below. Couldnt take any pictures as was driving and couldnt stay to watch either unfortunately! Lovely siting!

Main sighting: White-fronted Geese

Car park – hides: crows, herring gulls, collard dove, mallards, heron, blackbirds, lesser black-backed gulls, cormorant, buzzard, 7 fly-by mute swans and woodpigeons. Hide 1: Canada geese, 3 white-fronted geese, 6 shelduck, 90 teal and 58 wigeon. Hide 2: robin, 2 coot, female marsh harrier quartering, 13 lapwing, 3 skylarks, 2 greylags and magpies. Snipe platform: 14 more white-fronted geese, blue tit, 25 more coot, 3 gadwall, 1 little grebe and starlings. Seawall: 4 redshanks, 4 oystercatchers, 25 curlew, 26 more shelduck, stonechat pair, 6 grey plovers, 1 black-tailed godwit and black headed gulls. Back at hide 1: meadow pipits, 4 snipe, female kestrel and a pied wagtail. Gate looking into field: 6 fieldfare and 2 redwings feeding, berries seem to have gone along the hedgerow so they are after alternative food now.

Main sighting: Short eared Owl

One SEO on a fence post between the Curlew Hide and Snipe Screen. Also 14 White Fronted Geese on far side of Monks, Marsh Harrier and Kestrel. No visible waders although Curlew calling as was a Song Thrush. Treacherous underfoot trying to access the Curlew Hide and I didn’t go beyond there.

Main sighting: Snipe

Out of county,12-Snipe along the east side of the spit,this is where they are usually found.Also 3-Grey Herons perched in the tree tops on the island.They bred successfully on the island last year,as did Little Egrets.

Main sighting: Common gulls

170 common gulls

Main sighting: Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harrier (female)
Goosander (male)
Little Egret (1)
Bar-tailed Godwit (3)
Black-tailed Godwit (c40)
Snipe (2)
Grey Plover (3)
Lapwing (c100)
Knot (5)
Dunlin (c500)
Redshank (c200)
Oystercatcher (7)
Curlew (5)
Wigeon (c200)
Teal (c200)
Shoveler (20)
Pintail (50)
Shelduck (c100)

Main sighting: Crossbill

5 Crossbill (in flight with the familiar ‘chipping’ call), 2 Woodcock flushed

Also Chaffinch, Siskin and Redpoll

Main sighting: White Fronted Geese

Only hide 1 visited as heavy rain coming in. En-route to hide: chiffchaff contact call (by bridge), collard dove, woodpigeons, herring gulls, chaffinches, blue tits, starlings, crows, goldfinches, buzzard, fieldfares, redwings (both in low numbers), magpies, song thrush in full song and moorhen. Hide 1: Canada geese, 2 white-fronted geese later joined by 5 more, 51 shoveler (good increase in numbers), 5 graylag’s, mallards, 96 teal (more flying around lagoon 3), cormorants, 52 wigeon, 3 snipe, female marsh harrier and pied wagtail. Robin and blackbird back at car park just as rain started.

Main sighting: White-Fronted Geese

AM Visit.
Nice bit of sunshine –
Highlight – White Fronted Geese x 15.( on Priors and grass near Becs and the remains of the Seawall Hide.
Others – Marsh Harrier x 2 ( M/F) , Buzzard, Kestrel x 2 ( M/F), Fieldfare x 30 + Redwing x 10+, Gadwall x 6, Shoveler x 30+ , Teal x 30+, Coot x 10 +, Mute Swan x 1, Canada Goose x 20+, Greylag Goose x 20 +, Skylark x 1, Stonechat x 2 ( 2 Pairs), Meadow Pippit flock x 20, Lapwing Flock 200+, Peregrine x 1 ( seen by another visitor), Blue Tits,Great Tits, Starling and Chaffinch. Magpies, Carrion Crows and Woodpigeons. Redshank x 2 , Curlews x 6 , Shelduck x 6 and Oystercatcher x 5.