Cress Marsh

Visited Cress Marsh f today (11:35 - 12:30) for the first time since November 2019. Water levels and amounts of mud showing on the scrapes looks good, but the main lagoon was a bit full to say the least! A SW breeze was blowing, with drizzle / light rain falling.

Species noted, with location on site as per the site map drawn up by Joy:

Black-headed Gull (Field & Pylon scrapes)
Buzzard 1 (sat on fence post behind scrape H)
Carrion Crow
Cormorant 3 (Scrape H)
Curlew 1 (Field scrapes) - new species for me at Cress Marsh
Gadwall 2 (Lagoon) - new species for me at Cress Marsh
Great Black-backed Gull 4 (Scrape H)
Green Sandpiper 4 (Pylon scrapes)
Herring Gull (Scrape H)
Lapwing 50 (Scrapes H & I)
Magpie
Mallard 3 (Lagoon)
Pied Wagtail 7
Redshank 2 (1 on Scrape G & 1 on Scrape BC)
Shoveler 7 (5 on Pylon scrapes & 2 on Field scrapes) - new species for me at Cress Marsh
Starling
Teal 4 (Scrape B )
Woodpigeon

Can’t compete with the stonking B-t Thrush in town, but Cressy was enjoying a little Green Sandpiper fest this afternoon. Water levels have dropped exposing muddy edges which 4 Greens Sands were enjoying ...Scrape I
Also present were:
Lapwing 13. on H
Pied Wags c15
Shoveler 2 (m+f) H
Cormorant 4..H
Mipit 1
Kestrel 1
Buzz 1
Woodpigs c700
Gulls...BH c50; GBB c25, Herring c6 ..... so windy It was tricky keeping scope steady so these are v approximate numbers
Roe Deer 1

Absolutely nothing on Lagoon
Interestingly, a report in sightings book yday of Woodcock but didn’t say where on site.
It was good to see the pair of Yellowhammer on Green Fence a few days ago.

I shall not be able to get along to the site for next 2 months but will look forward to reports from fellow Cressy Birders.

Good to see things starting to pick up at Cress Marsh. With the nights starting to draw out, I will hopefully soon be able to start calling in again on my way home from work.

A little bit more activity at Cressy this afternoon..... spent 90 mins.
Delighted to see 1 Green Sand, back on site
Peregrine..... standing for about 15 mins in middle of Field Scrapes drinking and being mobbed by Lapwings.
Lapwing c70
Little Egret 1
Gadwall 5m + 5f on Lagoon
Shoveler 2m + 2f on Pylon Scrape H
Goldfinches 2, Pied Wags c12, Carrion Crows
Kestrel
Woodpigs c1000 ...came into roost in Wood
Gulls 100s came in to roost

Had an hour yesterday. Lovely bright and sunny day, albeit a tad breezy.
Most notable was how high the water levels were. On the main lagoon only the very tops of the brush was seen, the island scrapes having disappeared.
Saw a few goldies and linnets on approach, with gulls and lapwing on pylon side pools.
Main lagoon produced nothing apart from a few woodies around edge and large numbers over Lenzing field. No sign of any ducks or predators anywhere.
Disappointing really, hoping the spring may produce more... and the water levels drop to a more natural state.

1.5 hrs this afternoon produced:
Shoveler 4 (1 m +3f. new species for site)
Gadwall 2 ( m + f)
Teal 6
Curlew 3
Lapwing 1
Piedwag 3
Buzz 3
Kes 1
Yellowhammer 1 m
Starling murmuration c1000 nr Dock Tower
Gulls numerous
Woodpigs.. c670
Chaffinch.... c10