April 15th to 20th 2018

This has been an exciting week. Spring finally arrived and, although bird numbers are still low, the species list is growing rapidly.

Reed bunting at the Hayden Hide

15th  Mediterranean gull (2nd summer) Washout Pit.

16th  Ring ouzel and 2 Arctic terns.

17th  Dog otter (in Quarry)

18th  Grass snake. Grasshopper warbler Egyptian geese x2
         2 male bramblings at the Hayden Hide and a cock redstart at the river view.

Brambling at the Hayden Hide.

19th  Pumphouse Pit (no public access) Martin is a registered counter and holds a permit.
         This area will become part of the reserve in a year or two.
       
         Spotted redshank, little gull x 3, Cetti's warbler x 4, little ringed plover,
         redshank x 2, green sandpiper, dunlin, greenshank x 2, oystercatcher x 4,
         lapwing x 2, reed warbler x 2, garden warbler x 2, lesser whitethroat x 3,
         nightingale x2, cuckoo x 2, shelduck x 9, yellow wagtail x 1. (MD)

         Heronry Lakes osprey over in evening. Treecreeper, cuckoo and single brambling.

Grey heron.

20th  Grasshopper warbler in East Scrub and Cettis warbler x 2. (Colin Burgh)
         2 ospreys and 2 ravens reported from quarry in morning. Little gull at sailing lake.
         Single male brambling at Hayden Hide all day. Three tern rafts occupied.
         Wren, goldfinch, l-t tit, dunnock, reed, bunting, robin, blackbird, blue tit,
         great tit, whitethroat, garden warbler, lesser whitethroat, buzzard and red kite
         all near the Visitor Centre. Marsh harrier over.
         Grass snake swimming at Kingfisher Hide and a weasel at Peter's Field. (JAS)

         Pumphouse Pit: Black tern, Arctic tern, avocet x 2, dunlin x 3, redshank x 3,
         oystercatcher x 4, wheatear, marsh harrier, yellow wagtail x 2, Cetti's warbler x 2,
         nightingale x 4, yellow-legged gull. (MRD)

         Sailing Lake: Little gull and raven (S Kitching)
       
         Kingfisher Hide: Goldcrest, treecreeper x 3
         Raven over Island Pit, Grass-snake swimming at Cobham Hide.
         (PP, EKP, SW, MW)

         Red Kite, nightingale (moorings) blackcap, Cetti's warbler, whitethroat and
         garden warbler on Heron Trail. (JP)

Peacock butterfly on old steel gate.

 Butterflies.
        Each day the list has been the same: comma, peacock, small tortoiseshell,
        green-veined white, brimstone and orange tip.

Nightingale update:
         We seem to have 4 males near Offord Pumping station along footpath and
         four more dotted around the Reserve. Please report all locations accurately
         to us as we are concerned about falling numbers of this flagship species.