Recent Sightings (28th-30th March)
British Steel Hide
Wader counts from the steel hide include 373 Black-tailed Godwits, 306 Redshank, 196 Knot, 7 Dunlin, 19 Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank, 7 Curlew, 1 Lapwing and 2 Snipe. 3 Spoonbills were seen on the 30th and a Gannet was seen flying over the estuary on the 28th. Wildfowl counts include 2 Pochard, 4 Pintail, 29 Teal, 17 Wigeon, 23 Tufted Ducks, 3 Shoveler, 9 Gadwall, 31 Shelduck, 27 Greylag Geese and 5 Canada Geese. Other birds have included 2 Little Egrets, a Buzzard, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Pied Wagtails and a Common Gull.
Millennium Wetlands
Our first Willow Warbler of the year was heard singing near the Peter Scott Hide on the 30th. There are no fewer than 25 singing Chiffchaffs on the reserve now. A Sand Martin was seen over Deep Water Lake on the 29th. Some fantastic flocks of waders have been roosting on Deep Water Lake in recent days, possibly the Millennium Wetlands largest ever Knot count totalled around 300 individuals. Joining them were 110 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Redshank and a Dunlin. At least 7 Lapwing area still on the main island. 4 Snipe were flushed from the main island when carrying out work there on the 29th. The only ducks still to be found in good numbers from the Peter Scott Hide seem to be Pochard (11) and Tufted Ducks (26). Small numbers of Coot, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall and Little Grebe can be found around the lake. Most of these ducks are probably going to breed on site. The Ring-necked Duck is still going strong on Deep Water Lake (29th), surely it has to try to head back to North America soon if it wants a chance to breed (with another Ring-necked Duck). Other bits and bobs include a Grey Heron, a Siskin, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Treecreepers and plenty of birds in song.
