The Tranquil Otter is an important site for the Solway Estuary Wetlands Birds Survey. Trevor, our neighbour volunteer, takes an official count each month and provides us with a report of the birdlife on the Lough and in the woods. You might catch a glimpse of him and his westie, Archie.
“I did the WeBS count last Sunday.
Almost all of the wintering ducks have migrated north to breed; no gadwall, teal or wigeon seen and just one pair of shoveler remaining. Many of the mallard, coot, moorhen have moved to cover for nesting and are not easily seen, unlike of course your two pairs of Mute Swan. At least four little grebe present, but their number is likely to increase when the water plants grow back to the surface and provide anchorage for nests.”
A new species – Whimbrel
“Technically I can add one new species to the “site list”: a number of whimbrel (maybe 100) recently arrived along the Solway, en-passage to their highland breeding sites. In case you don’t know them they are very like curlew, but a bit smaller, shorter in the bill-length and far less numerous. However their call is distinctive. Two flew over the site whilst I was there.”
“I also did a circuit of the woodland path and, with the sunny, calm conditions, the birdsong was delightful. You have had a lot of warblers arrive at the Tranquil Otter. As a minimum the numbers I saw/heard: 14 willow warbler, also 14 chiffchaff, eight blackcap, 11 wren, goldcrest in six places, 10 robin, two song thrush and one mistle thrush. Plus of course the common species like blackbird, blue & great tit, chaffinch, nuthatch, great spotted woodpecker etc.”
“Sadly I couldn’t find any reed bunting. There was one male advertising his presence at the south end of the lake on 27th March, but I’ve not seen/heard any this month.
Regards
Trevor”
We hope you enjoy the Wildlife Report April 2019. Did you manage to see the Reed Bunting? or a Whimbrel? Find out more about whimbrel on the RSPB website.
What our guests saw in April 2019
Guests who recently stayed with us very kindly sent us a list of the birds they saw during their fortnight stay in Buzzard Lodge.
