Eleven people met up at the Wetlands, greeted by some blue sky breaking a fortnight of cyclonic gloom. Multiple Cetti’s Warblers were calling everywhere. The visitor centre area and pond gave us Moorhen, Coot, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Magpies, Goldfinches, Chiffchaffs, Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits and a Pied Wagtail. On the way to the main path we had some good views of Greenfinches and Dunnocks and ‘peeping’ Bullfinches. A regular told us about the large flock of Bearded Tits seen within the last hour; expectations raised we moved on to the reed beds.
A fleeting glimpse of a Cetti’s Warbler hopping over a reed clump and multiple Wrens and Robins and as we approached the coast a couple of stragglers heard a single ping, was it a Beardie?
Along the coastline, the tide was lowish and hosted 300+ Shelducks, 60+ Curlews and a brief murmuration of Dunlins before they vanished into a creek. Other sightings were m any Black-headed Gulls, a couple of Grey Herons and Redshanks. Some persistent scope-work revealed four Grey Plovers and individual Dunlins. Some Stonechats, Reed Buntings and a pair of battling Dunnocks gave us a show on the closer shore. A Water Rail squealed behind us while a Cormorant bat-signalled on a pylon. Distant Redwing and Peregrine were also seen. Wandering back through the woodland, much canopy cheeping; amongst the Long-tailed Tits were Chaffinches, Siskin, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, and a rosy-chested Redpoll ended the walk with a real treat. 38 species, excluding Bearded Tit. Some went on to Goldcliff after lunch and added Golden Plover, Fieldfare, Meadow Pipit. Thanks Peter for leading.
Ian Price
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