Recent Sightings 2nd - 9th December
Highlights - Mother Otter with 3 pups, Woodcock, Water Pipit, Red Kite, Fox and Kingfisher.
British Steel Hide
A nice selection of wading birds have been seen on the Saline Lagoons recently including: Dunlin, Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Knot, Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit and Snipe. The six Spoonbills are still present, often found snoozing together on the Saline Lagoons. A Water Pipit has been seen infrequently along the embankment separating the two lagoons. The Dafen Scrapes has held good numbers of wildfowl, especially Wigeon and Teal. A Fox has been seen patrolling around the edge of the scrapes keeping the wildfowl and waders on their toes.
Millennium Wetlands
A female Otter and her three pups have been showing well on occasions through out the week often fishing together right in front of the Herons Wing Hide. Woodcock have been seen a few times, especially in the evenings, but occasionally flushed from daytime roosts. A Kingfisher has been seen at various locations around the reserve more often than not just as a flash of blue whizzing by. A couple of Red Kites have been noted flying over the reserve.
Reserve Management
A portion of the reedbed has been cut and started to be cleared; this is done on an eight year rotation to makes sure the reedbed stays at different stages and offers a more diverse habitat for wildlife. On going scrub control is being carried out to make sure the wetland habitat stays suitable for waders and wildfowl. Small parcels of woodland along the Northern Loop have been cut at various heights to hopefully encourage Willow Tits to nest on the reserve.
