In addition to the interesting gulls seen today (and the greenland white-fronted goose) we have had a report of a curlew sandpiper at the saltmarsh pools and a spotted flycatcher at the woodland feeding station (though neither have been confirmed as yet). The green woodpecker continues to be heard 'yaffling' as you cross the road from the car park or at the front of the visitor centre. A tawny owl has been seen really well in some trees near lower hide today and 2 stoat were on the Griesdale trail. A spotted redshank has been seen again at the coastal pools.
The rest of the week had some good highlights as well. A whooper swan was seen at Griesdale hide yesterday. An osprey has been seen on the 18th and yesterday. The first reed warbler was heard at the end of the Causeway on the 21st. Swifts, housemartins and sedge warblers are here now. A green sandpiper was around on the 22nd on the stone island at public hide (2 were reported the day before) and a common sandpiper was reported at the saltmarsh pools.
2 little gulls are at Lilian's hide at the moment. A mediterranean gull and a greenland white-fronted goose were also seen there at around midday.
See what a little gull looks like and find out more here: http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/l/littlegull/index.aspx
Compare it with a mediterranean gull: http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/m/mediterraneangull/index.aspx
An amazing 14 red deer hinds and a stag were seen down at Griesdale hide today. A bearded tit was seen down there in the reeds as well. The bar-headed goose was around today again at lower hide. 2 marsh harriers were by Lilian's hide. A swallow was seen at Island mere. A spotted redshank at the Eric Morecambe in it's black breeding plumage.
An osprey was seen catching a fish near Griesdale hide at 3.30 pm and then flew away. Visitors were able to see the fish in it's talon's it was so close!. The first grasshopper warbler was heard today near the bridge on the Causeway. A bar-headed goose appeared at lower hide. A spotted redshank was at the coastal pools. A male hen harrier was reported flying over the Causeway at 2.30 pm. A dark bittern was seen from Public hide. An otter was seen today as well which is a really nice sight.
The female marsh harrier that has a radio transmitter possibly had it fitted by Roy Dennis in 2004 on the Tay Estuary Scotland. It was radio tracked to Senegal and the Gambia that winter before the transmitter failed.