Cress Marsh

Visited site this afternoon to check the cattle, an easy task for a change! Arrived on site at 13:25 and departed at 14:55. 28 species noted:

Avocet 2 - both on an island in the lagoon. No sign of chicks
Black-headed Gull 23 - all on islands in the lagoon
Coot 8 - on islands in the lagoon. 2 pairs with 2 chicks each.
Cormorant 1 - on island in the lagoon.
Goldfinch 2 - along the long path.
Great Tit - heard calling from trees by car park.
Grey Heron 3 - one on island in the lagoon, two in area (H). The latter two were seen when returning to the car and are not recorded in hide log book.
Greylag Goose 3 - flew over site as I returned to the car. Not recorded in hide log book.
Herring Gull 77 - in areas (C ) and (H)
Lapwing 1 - in area (A)
Lesser Black-back Gull 4 - in area (H)
Lesser Whitethroat 1 - along the long path
Linnet 1 - along the long path
Little Egret 2 - one on island in lagoon, one in area (E)
Little Ringed Plover 1 - on the lagoon bank
Magpie
Mallard 3 - on lagoon and in area (A)
Mute Swan 2 - both on the lagoon
Oystercatcher 4 - all on island in the lagoon. 1 pair with 2 chicks.
Pheasant
Pied Wagtail 2 - both on field scrapes
Shelduck 15 - in areas (C )(H) and lagoon. 7 were sat on the hide roof when I arrived on site!
Skylark 1 - singing over field scrapes
Swallow
Whitethroat 1 - in Hawthorn bush at the corner where the Short Path and Long Path meet.
Woodpigeon
Wren 1 - along the Long path.
Yellowhammer 1 - along the Long path

Also a Roe Deer (male) drinking from the lagoon immediately in front of the hide.

All recorded in BirdTrack.

A couple of hours today. The usual suspects but alas no avocets anywhere.
Highlight was hearing a cuckoo on the approach to the hide, and then picking him out on the big hedge after setting up the scope in the hide. It stayed for about an hour, preening and calling. The best view I have ever had with a cuckoo.

Noted whilst carrying out the weekly "Cattle check" late this afternoon at a damp and blustery Cress Marsh were:

Avocet 2 - both on one of the islands in the lagoon. No sign of the chicks.
Black-headed Gull 5 - in area H and the lagoon
Coot 2 - both on the lagoon
Gadwall 4 - all on the lagoon
Goldfinch 1 - along the long path
Grey Heron 1 - on the lagoon
Herring Gull 31 - on area H and lagoon
Lapwing 1 - on Field Scrapes
Lesser Black-back Gull 30 - all on area C
Little Ringed Plover 2 - both on one of the islands in the lagoon.
Magpie 4 - along the long path and area H
Mallard 4 - on area C and the lagoon
Mute Swan 2 - both on the lagoon
Oystercatcher 1 - on an island in the lagoon
Pied Wagtail 2 - both on the far bank of the lagoon
Reed Bunting 2 - both along the long path
Shelduck 10 - on area C and islands in the lagoon
Skylark 1 - singing over the Field Scrapes
Woodpigeon 50 - all on the Field Scrapes

Thanks Joy
You have no idea how relieved I am to hear that I am not the only one to find counting 12 large animals a bit of a challenge!
Best wishes - Stay Safe
Martin

For those who don’t know about the ‘12 Cow Challenge ‘: there are now 12 beautiful Hereford cows on Cress Marsh. Six of us ‘regulars’ are on a daily rota to check that the cattle haven’t thrown themselves in a ditch , contracted some awful disease (!) or been rustled! We have marvelled at how tricky it can be to count 12 when the cows are huddled together or, as Jon found,, hiding behind a tuft of grass!

Visited site today for my first attempt at the "12 Cow Challenge". I eventually managed to account for all 12, however, for such a large animal, they can quite easily disappear in the undergrowth! I was on site from 13:00 until 14:30 hrs and whilst there the following species of bird were recorded:

Avocet 9 - all on islands in the lagoon. No sign of any chicks.
Black-headed Gull 4 - area (A)
Canada Goose 14 - all on islands in the lagoon
Carrion Crow
Chiffchaff 1 - singing from trees next to the car park
Coot 2 - both on the lagoon
Cormorant 1 - on island in the lagoon
Gadwall 1 - on the lagoon
Goldfinch 2 - flying over the Pylon Scrapes
Grey Heron 2 - both on island in the lagoon
Greylag Goose 19 - area (H)
Herring Gull 10 - area (H)
Lapwing 2 - both on the Field Scrapes
Lesser Black-back Gull 5 - area (H)
Linnet 3 - along the Long Path
Little Egret 1 - area (D)
Little Grebe 1 - on the lagoon
Little Ringed Plover 1 - area (G)
Magpie 2 - on islands in the lagoon
Mallard 5 - Field Scrapes and on the lagoon
Pheasant 1 - in field by the Car Park
Pied Wagtail 2 - around the lagoon
Reed Bunting 1 - along the Long Path
Ringed Plover 2 - on island in the lagoon
Sedge Warbler 2 - both singing from the ditch next to the Long Path
Shelduck 10 - area (C) and island in the lagoon
Skylark 1 - singing above the Field Scrapes
Stock Dove 1 - area (H)
Woodpigeon
Yellowhammer 1 - along the Long Path

All recorded in BirdTrack.

Good luck everyone when checking the cattle and stay safe.