Cress Marsh 2021

9th May
Weather: Overcast with sunny intervals, mild, SW wind
Time on site: 13:45-16:00

Avocet    7
Black-Headed Gull    13
Canada Goose    4
Carrion Crow    3
Common Sandpiper    4
Cormorant    1
Great Black-back Gull    5
Greenshank    1
Greylag Goose    11
Herring Gull    53
Lapwing    5
Lesser Black-back Gull    70
Little Egret    5
Little Grebe    1
Little Ringed Plover    2
Mallard    7
Mute Swan    38
Oystercatcher    2
Pheasant    1
Pied Wagtail    2
Pochard    4
Robin    1
Sedge Warbler    1
Shelduck    19
Skylark    2
Song Thrush    1
Swallow    2
Wheatear    3
Yellowhammer    1

All records entered into BirdTrack.
 

Yes, the lagoon can be topped up by a pump that lifts water from an adjacent drain. The scrapes, however, rely on rainfall to keep them flooded.

Am I correct in thinking that Cress (main lagoon) doesn't rely on rainfall as it has a pump that can add water in times of drought?

I think the rain we have had recently has helped. Although the water levels on the scrapes and lagoon have dropped, they still hold a good volume of water and have some nice areas of exposed, soft mud for the birds to feed on.

I have measured 39 mm rainfall including 17;mm yesterday this month at Theddlethorpe so hopefully this has
raised water levels and softened ground at Cress (if similar rainfall) , improving feeding opportunities for waders ?

Regards John

Some good numbers there Jon. Hopefully a good sign of how the site is developing, and a good indication that the summer visitors will increase too. I would love to see the Avocets breed, but I imagine the same thing will happen as at Killingholme and the gulls will predate the eggs/chicks.