Spoonbill and Spotted Redshank

A high tide visit for a change today. Goldcliff Lagoons was busy with both people and birds. The recent sighting of a Spoonbill and the continual showing of a Glossy appears to be pulling in birders from all over.

The Spoonbill was spending its time at the reserve on Becs (Lagoon 3). Best viewed from the Seawall Hide. It spent quite some time feeding , preening and then roosting.

Spoonbill

I was surprised to see that a number of Black Tailed Godwits remain and there was even some Wigeon. Funny really as only the other day I was blogging about them all likely to be migrating soon to breed elsewhere.

In amongst the Godwits were some Redshank. If you looked carefully a Spotted Redshank could be found. It has summer plumage almost. It was roosting for the most part but on one occasion the birds took to the air and it flew around with the Godwits affording me an opportunity to get a few pictures of it in flight.

Spotted Redshank

Black Tailed Godwits, Redshank and a Spotted Redshank (Top)

The reserve was busy with Avocets, Lapwings, Tufted Ducks,Mallards, Mute Swans,Coot,Moorhen, Oystercatchers Shelducks, Shovelers, Gadwall, Redshank, Greylags and of course lots of Canadian Geese.

Shelduck

On Monks ( Lagoon 1) there was quite a few Avocets and on the Island were Ringed Plovers. A few birders noted that thy had seen Little Ringed Plovers as well.

At high tide a small flock of 17 Dunlin hurtled into the lagoons. They were being pursued by a female Merlin. Its probably the same bird that has been hanging around for a few weeks. Another birder reported seeing it catch a Redshank on Monks later in the afternoon.

Its great to have these falcons showing up. Even if it does cause some havoc.

A female Marsh Harrier was cruising up the Pill at the edge of the reserve but she did not venture any further today during my visit.

I am noticing an increase in the numbers of Herons, Egrets and Cormorants turning up. I watched a Grey Heron hunting for fish in front of the Seawall Hide. It appeared to be catching small minnows.

Grey Heron

Grey Heron hunting

A pair of Carrion Crows were harassing the waders.They appear to be testing their defences out. The waders will need to be on full alert as when they have chicks they will need to protect them as there will be plenty of predators about looking for an easy meal. The Lapwings and Avocets are already mobbing anything that looks remotely threatening.