Recent Sightings (15th-17th)
British Steel Hide
Wader counts from the hide include 436 Black-tailed Godwits, 247 Dunlin, 11 Greenshank, 17 Redshank, 300+ Lapwing, 3 Curlew and 2 Spotted Redshank. Wildfowl have included 82 Greylag Geese, c.200 Shelduck, 36 Wigeon, 5 Teal, 2 Pintail, 28 Tufted Ducks, 6 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall and 28 Mallards. Other birds have included 2 Stonechats, 8 Bullfinches, 1 Grey Heron, 9 Little Egrets, 3 Reed Buntings, 25 Cormorants, a Water Rail, a Buzzard, a Redpoll, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 144 Black-headed Gulls and a Kingfisher.
Millennium Wetlands
Wildfowl counts from the Deep Water Lake include 9 Mute Swans, 17 Tufted Ducks, 28 Teal, 7 Pochard, 4 Pintail, 2 Little Grebes, 4 Shoveler, 33 Gadwall, 5 Coot, 3 Wigeon, 2 Shelduck and 11 Mallard. 9 Snipe and a Lapwing have been seen on the island. A Hawfinch was seen in trees near the site entrance before flying off up towards the carpark on the 16th and a Firecrest and a male Blackcap were seen in the carpark on the same day. Single Bramblings have been seen flying over the carpark and in the trees surrounding the western scrapes on the 15th, 16th and 17th. Up to 17 Redwings, 3 Fieldfare, 5 Snipe, 2 Ravens, 5 Siskins, 13 Meadow Pipits, 17 Chaffinches, 9 Golfinches and 3 Greenfinches have been seen flying over the visitor centre on recent mornings and a Chiffchaff was seen near the observatory (in the grounds) on the 17th. Other birds have included Cetti's Warblers, Kingfishers, Water Rails, Buzzards, Grey Heron's, Little Egrets, Sparrowhawks and Mistle and Song Thrushes.
