Following the last minute change of venue due to the inclement weather, eight members of the group attended this visit to Marshside and enjoyed a good morning’s bird watching before the rain arrived in the afternoon.
We were also joined on this visit by two guests, Peter and Mike Twist, and benefited greatly from their extensive knowledge and experience.
A total of 50 bird species were observed, the most the group has recorded in a single visit to Marshside.
Other highlights included:
- A male Garganey, a rare and secretive duck with a UK breeding population estimated to be only around 100 pairs.
- 4 Mediterranean Gulls, among the numerous black-headed gulls
- Black-tailed Godwits and Ruff in full breeding plumage
- Avocets with chicks
Click ‘Continue reading’ for the full list of species seen:
Species | Number Seen | Breeding |
---|---|---|
Avocet | c. 25 | With Young |
Blackbird | 1 | |
Black-headed Gull | c. 750 | With Young |
Black-tailed Godwit | c. 70 | |
Blue Tit | 1 | |
Canada Goose | c. 60 | |
Carrion Crow | 4 | |
Chaffinch | 2 | |
Common Gull | 2 | |
Coot | 12 | With Young |
Cormorant | 1 | |
Dunnock | 4 | |
Gadwall | c. 30 | |
Garganey | 1 | Male |
Goldfinch | 7 | |
Great Black-backed Gull | 1 | |
Greenfinch | 1 | |
Grey Heron | 1 | |
Greylag Goose | c. 20 | |
Herring Gull | 3 | |
House Martin | 20 | |
Lapwing | c. 20 | |
Lesser Black-backed Gull | 5 | |
Linnet | 5 | |
Little Egret | 3 | |
Little Grebe | 1 | |
Magpie | 2 | |
Mallard | c. 20 | |
Meadow Pipit | 8 | |
Mediterranean Gull | 4 | 2 adult, 2 1st summer |
Moorhen | 10 | With Young |
Mute Swan | 4 | |
Oystercatcher | 6 | |
Redshank | 6 | |
Reed Bunting | 3 | |
Reed Warbler | 4 | |
Ruff | c. 15 | Males displaying |
Sedge Warbler | 2 | |
Shelduck | 12 | |
Shoveler | 6 | |
Skylark | 5 | |
Starling | 30 | |
Swallow | 8 | |
Swift | 12 | |
Teal | 6 | |
Tufted Duck | 10 | |
Whitethroat | 4 | |
Wigeon | 1 | |
Woodpigeon | c. 50 | |
Wren | 6 |
Last Updated on June 30, 2016