Friday 8th May 1445-1830
Another day of bitter disappointment where the encouraging ESE wind and drizzle turning to heavier rain again failed to deliver any form of passage. The combined sightings of myself, Dave J and Trevor were as follows:
MOORS POOL
2 Mute Swan, 16 Canada Geese, 1 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall (both males), 60 Tufted Duck, 32 Coot, 4 GC Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 6 Common Tern, 3 LBB Gull, Med Gull (2s), c200 hirudines (approx. 60% Sand Martin, 25% House Martin, 15% Swallow), c25 Swift, Kingfisher, marked increase in Blackcap numbers, Common Whitethroat singing near southern boundary
NORTH MOORS
1 Oystercatcher, 1 Coot,1 Moorhen, 2 Shoveler, 3 Tufted Duck, Cetti's Warbler, Common Whitethroat singing near car park
SAILING POOL
2 Mute Swan, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Canada Geese, 7 GC Grebe, 7 Coot, 24 Tufted Duck, c50 hirundines
FLASHES
31 Avocet with 20 young (4:4:4:3:3:2), 2 Oystercatcher, 4 LRP, 8 Lapwing, 2 Dunlin (not present this afternoon), 6 Shelduck, 4 Gadwall (pair later joined by 2 males, potentially off the Moors), 3 Shoveler (pair and male), 19 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 18 Coot, 14 Moorhen, 16 Canada Geese, male Kestrel, Yellow Wagtail, Garden Warbler singing from the hedgerow we managed 3 years ago near the bridge
The total of 103 Tufted Ducks across the reserve is getting close to the site record
Has anyone seen any activity from the Raven nest on the small mast in the last ten days??
With winds turning to the south and temperatures rising to at least 20C by Tuesday hopefully there will be change of fortune; Temminck's Stints are starting to turn up in a number of inland location so keep an eye out for mini Common Sands