Birding today on the reserve
Started at the Moors as usual at 8.50am no one else on the reserve. Some of the crew arrived shortly afterwards, including Vern, Bobby P, Tony B, Phil W later Keith M. But the weather certainly sorted the boys from the :gh:,:-O Heavy rain from late morning until mid afternoon, kept the birds down. But when it cleared large flocks flew around the Flashes.
A bit of inward migration at the Moors involved gadwall, but the pochard had certainly vacated since Tuesday. Several immature Herring gulls lingered around and they were certainly more numerous than LBBG.
Species count Moors:
Little egret, GCG 3 (2 in summer plumage), Little grebe 3 at least, cormorant 38, mute swan 4 (the residents chasing off a pair of interlopers. Shoveler 30( 19 males), Teal 30, Gadwall 4 (2 prs), shelduck 5, pochard 4 males, tufted 22 +, coot 260, water rail 2 - 1 swampy bottom and 1 feeding station, snipe 16, curlew 11, lapwing 1, BHG 200, LBBG 10, herring gull 25+ (most 1st winters), green woodp, mistle thrush 2 east side, fieldfare 30, redwing 5, song thrush 2 singing, cettis warbler 2 singing east side, grey wag,
F Stn: bullfinch 4, greenfinch 12, reed bunting 15+,
SAILING POOL: GCG 2, little grebe 2, coot 4
FLASHES:As the rain stopped, the birds came to life. There were a few birds already on the Flashes, but several large flocks suddenly appeared at the back of the orchard. It was more likely that they had taken flight due to a passing sparrowhawk, than the rain stopping. But either way in a few minutes 100's of birds appeared. These being 900 - 1000 wood pigeon, c250 lapwing later landing on the meadow, 250 winter thrushes, 60 starling, and many BHG/large gulls passing through. A historical sign of spring is the build up of coot so spring is now here
. Two Golden plover came in from the north then flew over the transmitter field, luckily they dropped down on to the 'spit' in front of the hide.
Species counts FLASHES:
Little egret, Teal 80+, mallard 40, shoveler 10 (total 40 on reserve) ,shelduck 8 (13 in total), Coot 16 (up from 6 10th Feb), snipe 11, GOLDEN PLOVER 2, curlew, lapwing 308, BHG 300, LBBG 20, herring gull 10, green woodp, wood pigeon 900 - 1000, (NO Stock doves!!), fieldfare/redwing 250, starling 60+, song thrush,
pic of a curlew on the east bank of Amy's marsh