Recent Sightings (13th-15th June)
British Steel Hide
An adult Curlew Sandpiper was on the lagoons on the 15th, as well as 5 Whimbrel, 96 Curlew, 11 Lapwing, 18 Redshank and 3 Black-tailed Godwits. 2 Spoonbills were still present, as well as 5 Mediterranean Gulls in amongst 165 Black-headed Gulls. Wildfowl included a Wigeon, 99 Shelduck, 4 Tufted Ducks, 16 Greylag Geese, 11 Gadwall, 2 Mute Swans, 1 Moorhen and two families of Canada Geese. There were also 2 Swifts, 10 Swallows, 3 Pied Wagtails, 3 Little Egrets, a Meadow Pipit, 8 Linnets and 9 Cormorants.
Millennium Wetlands
On Deep Water Lake over 450 Black-tailed Godwits have been roosting on the main island. There have also been 7 Shoveler, a Little Grebe, 4 Pochard, 4 Coot and loads of chicks (including Coots, Moorhens, Gadwall, Mallard and Tufted Ducks). Our Water Rail family can still be heard in the reedbeds just before the turn off to the Canoe Safari. I'm sure if you waited long enough they would show themselves! There are lots of juvenile birds around now including a fantastic family of Cetti's Warblers that were showing down to about 5ft!
Other Wildlife
Recent Moth trapping efforts have produced over 30 species, including Poplar Hawkmoth, Beautiful Hook-tip, Buff Arches, Gold Spot, Burnished Brass, Common Swift, Figure of Eighty, Elephant Hawkmoth, Sandy Carpet, Small Angle Shades and many others.
3 Grass Snakes and 3 Slow Worms were seen underneath tin sheets near the Peter Scott Hide. Two Bee Orchids, a Pyramidal Orchid, Common Twayblades and Southern Marsh Orchids are now in flower around the reserve.
