Thursday and Friday:
Most obvious on the walks were wagtails in the graded fields, most appeared to be White c20-30 in fields from car park down to the Britton Hide on Thursday, slightly fewer yesterday, with a sprinkling of Pieds. Nothing any brighter but worth checking over coming weeks. More again in Trehills and West Hooks fields towards Martins Haven.
Wheatear seemed to arrive yesterday 23 in total (with 16 together in field west side of the mere) inc a couple of really standout peachy birds. First 2
Sedge warblers by the barbwire gate.
Chiffchaff were scattered along the coast and around the mere, calling and snatching the midges from the blackthorn, 10 alone in the gorse on the Deer Park. 3
Blackcaps and a
Willow warbler.
Blackbirds were busy with birds carrying food (looks like there's 3 pairs on the Deer Park/Martins Haven) another pair in the rough pasture nearby. A
Red kite was seen on both days, with a second bird joining it yesterday, 3
Buzzards and a
Peregrine were also taking advantage of a thermal over the Deer Park. Female/imm
Merlin and female
Sparrowhawk watching the wagtails. And male
Kestrel near Gateholm.
Chough: single birds by Renny Slip and Wooltack, pair by Gateholm. Swans are on the nest as in previous year a GBB is keeping tabs on them. The pair of
Tufties on the north irrigation and the pair of
Shelduck are still around the mere.
Teal 12 pairs, 2 male,
Shoveler 5 pairs, 4 male and pair of
Gadwall, Most of the female Mallard have disappeared presumably on nests.
