Recent Sightings (11th-13th April)
We found a lot of new of new activity during our regular nestbox checks, and with many completed nests, it shouldn't be long before we get our first eggs. A really nice surprise was a Tawny Owl chick that was found in one of our boxes.
British Steel Hide
Wildfowl and wader counts from the hide include 132 Black-tailed Godwits, 10 Greenshank, 66 Redshank, 6 Shoveler, 19 Tufted Ducks, 4 Teal, 2 Wigeon, 8 Gadwall, 21 Greylag Geese and 4 Canada Geese. 3 Spoonbills were still present on the 13th, as well as a Little Egret. There were also 3 Mistle Thrushes on the NRA scrapes and a Green Woodpecker, 5 Blackcaps, 12 Shoveler and 7 Teal in and around the freshwater lagoon.
Millennium Wetlands
Counts from Deep Water Lake include 10 Gadwall, 4 Teal, 11 Redshank, 163 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Knot, 8 Pochard, 15 Tufted Ducks, up to 3 Mediterranean Gulls and a Peregrine. There are still good numbers of common migrants around the reserve including 2 Reed Warblers, Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs.
Other Wildlife
With some recent warm weather, a few butterflies have been out and about, with 2 Brimstones and a Small Tortoiseshell seen on the reserve. An Otter has been very active around the Heron's Wing Hide most nights.
