Eleven members met at the visitor centre car park. From here we saw a Red Kite flying over which we probably saw later in the day and a Common Tern flew past. Small birds around the car park and visitor centre feeding area included Great Tits, Blue Tits, Dunnock and Chaffinch. A Chiffchaff was in the trees and several Blackcaps were heard singing as we walked through the wooded area to the first viewing screen. A Moorhen, a Coot, four Greylags and a Gadwall were on the small pool with reed beds. A male Reed Bunting and Reed Warbler were singing in the reed beds. Several Grey Herons flew past from the distant heronry. The Sand Martin nesting wall next to the viewing screen unfortunately was not occupied.
As we walked to the coal tip track several Orange Tip butterflies were seen along with a Comma, Brimstone and a Speckled Wood. At the first pool we came to there were two Little Grebes, a Great-crested Grebe, a Pochard and two Common Terns. Over the ridge behind the pool we could see six Swifts and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls. In the distance there was a Buzzard soaring quite high.. Further along a Lesser Whitethroat was singing down by the river. On the first of the coal tip reed bed pools we found several Pochards, a Great Crested Grebe, a Mute Swan and Tufted Ducks. Our first Sedge Warblers were singing in the reed bed. A small family of Coots were on the next of these pools.
From the top end of the footpath we could look down on the nesting Grey Herons, Cormorants, Little Egrets and Spoonbill colonies. We could see three Spoonbills in the colony from here, some of the Grey Herons and Cormorants. 17 Spoonbills and 18 Grey Herons could be seen from the road but it isn’t suitable for a group to stop and view. But from our vantage point we could see a Spoonbill bathing and others flying to and fro from the trees along with Little Egrets. A Jay was seen sat in the top of a bush preening. To the left looking over to Lin Dyke pools four Cattle Egrets were in the company of a herd of Highland Cattle. Pochards and Gadwall were on the pool in front of the colonies.
We then returned to the visitor centre and had our lunch.
Next stop we drove to Lin Dyke at the western end of the reserve. A member had gone ahead and put some bird seed out on a bird feeder to attract the local Willow Tits. They managed to see one but it did not reappear again for the group. Along the footpath are viewing screens to look over the large pool, muddy waters edge and rough grassland. Wildfowl here included Greylag and Canada Geese, two Shelducks, a Shoveler, Mallard and Gadwall. The only waders were two Avocets and a solitary Lapwing that flew past. Two Oystercatchers then flew in onto a small island. A Kingfisher was seen flying across the water then returning later and a male Marsh Harrier was quartering over the rough grassy field before flying out of view.
As the Highland Cattle moved closer to us the attendant Cattle Egrets also came closer giving better views. Further along the footpath a Cetti’s Warbler blasted it’s song from the scrub. We also saw a Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcaps, Great Tits, Blue Tits and Long-tailed Tits. Two Little Egrets flew overhead from from out of the colony. A Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk flew past the viewing screen. On our return to the car park we heard a Common Whitethroat across the road. Still no sign of the Willow Tits. A target bird we missed today was the Cuckoo. No reports had so far been logged with the visitor centre.
The species total for the day was 61.
Thank you to all who attended and made for an enjoyable day.
Mike Smithson
