Recent Sightings (1st-3rd August)
British Steel Hide (and Grounds)
Autumn passage seems to be beginning now, with quite a nice mixed flock of waders beginning to build up on the saline lagoons. On the 3rd there were 2 Spotted Redshanks, 35 Greenshank, 78 Black-tailed Godwits, 76 Redshank and 14 Dunlin on view from the steel hide. An adult and an immature Spoonbill were still present on the 3rd also. 24 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons, 219 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 16 Lapwing, 1 Great Black-Backed Gull, 4 Snipe and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull have also been seen since the beginning of August. On the NRA scrapes 25 Goldfinches, 6 Linnets, a Meadow Pipit, 30 House Martins, 5 Sand Martins, 50 Swallows, 2 Swifts, 2 Willow Warblers, a Green Woodpecker and a Buzzard have been seen. A flock of 9 House Sparrows flew over the freshwater lagoon on the 3rd, our largest count for at least 5 years. 27 Teal, a Common Sandpiper, 5 Swifts, 4 Bullfinches, a Coal Tit and 8 Greenfinches have been seen around the freshwater lagoon in the grounds.
Millennium Wetlands
At least two Kingfishers are regularly being seen on Deep Water Lake, and often hunting right in front of the Peter Scott Hide. 50 Lapwing, 2 Green Sandpipers and flocks of Black-tailed Godwits have also been seen on Deep Water Lake. As well as 13 Teal, 3 Shoveler, 1 Pochard, 3 Coot, 1 Raven, 2 Grey Herons, 9 Little Egrets, 1 Buzzard and 21 House Martins. 6 Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Garden Warbler, a Reed Warbler family, 2 Sedge Warblers and a Blackcap have been seen in the bushes around the Heron's Wing Hide.
Other Wildlife
The wildflower meadows near the water labs held large numbers of Common Blues this morning, as well as Small Coppers, Painted Lady's Comma's and Red Admirals. There was also a Migrant Hawker hunting there. A Grass Snake was seen in Black Poplar Wood.
