Recent Sightings at Grimsargh Wetland
7th June 2026
Shelduck, 9, (Geoff Carefoot)
5 ducklings dozing, all moved into cover during rain shower.
Oystercatcher, 2
Avocet, 7
Female sheltering lone chick during rain shower, other two sticking it out
Lapwing, 2
Chiffchaff, 2
2 males calling.
2nd June 2026
Shelduck, 4
Adults, 5 growing ducklings presumably in cover.
Gadwall, 9
Flock of 7 in flight but no ducklings seen today
Tufted Duck, 6
Little Grebe, 2
Mere
Oystercatcher, 4
Avocet, 7
Includes 3 chicks
Lapwing, 4
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Black-headed Gull
Great Tit, 4
Adults feeding fledgelings
Willow Warbler, 2
Chiffchaff, 3
Singers
Reed Warbler, 2
2 males singing, one showing well in phragmites from PF
Bullfinch, 2, Pair
In front of PF screen again.
Reed Bunting, 1, m
Heard only
1st June 2026
Ringed Plover, 2, (Mark Breaks)
Reed Warbler, 3
29th May 2026
Gadwall, 27
Including female with 12 ducklings
Curlew, 3
Black-tailed Godwit, 2
Redshank, 1
Reed Warbler, 2
Singing males
28th May 2026
Shelduck, 11, (Geoff Carefoot)
2 pairs and pair with 5 growing ducklings
Avocet, 7
Including pair with 3 young
Little Ringed Plover, 1
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
I remaining, in sum plum
Whitethroat, 1, m
Bullfinch, 2, Pair
Fly-past, PF screen
25th May 2026
Mute Swan, 2
Shelduck, 9
Includes pair with 5 rapidly growing ducklings
Oystercatcher, 4
Avocet, 8
Little Ringed Plover, 1
Black-tailed Godwit, 2
24th May 2026
Shelduck, 11
Pair still with 5 ducklings
Avocet, 5
3 feeding below north bank screen
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Black-tailed Godwit, 16
Island lake
Mediterranean Gull, 1
Over
Jay, 1
With a small nestling, mobbed by small passerines
Bullfinch, 2, Pair
In front of public footpath screen
23rd May 2026
Black-tailed Godwit, 1, (Mark Breaks)
17th May 2026
Shelduck, 7, 1M 1F 5 juv, (Jen Coates)
Tufted Duck, 3
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Avocet, 5
Lapwing, 4
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Jackdaw, 20
Swallow, 2
House Martin, 1
Reed Warbler, 1
Whitethroat, 1
Pied Wagtail (yarrellii), 1
Pheasant, 1, M, (Geoff Carefoot)
Canada Goose, 20
includes goslings.. WeBS count
Shelduck, 11, 5 ducklings
Includes 3 adults in adjacent field.
Gadwall, 5
Mallard, 9
Tufted Duck, 6, 3 pairs.
Moorhen, 4
Coot, 3
Little Grebe, 1, m
Heard 'chuckling'
Great Crested Grebe, 1
Incubating.
Oystercatcher, 4
Avocet, 5
Lapwing, 5
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Flew up, up and away, west
Whimbrel, 1
Again, lone bird.
Curlew, 1
Bathing.
Black-headed Gull, 142
WeBS count
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4
Jay, 1
Jackdaw, 17
Carrion Crow, 2
Sand Martin, 6
Swallow, 2
House Martin, 5
Willow Warbler, 4
Chiffchaff, 3
Whitethroat, 1, m
Confrontation in dunnock bramble territory
Wren, 2, Singers
Dunnock, 3
Pied Wagtail (yarrellii), 1, M
Greenfinch, 2, M M
Reed Bunting, 1, Singing male
16th May 2026
Oystercatcher, 2, (David Bickerton)
Avocet, 6
Little Ringed Plover, 4
Knot, 1
Dunlin, 1
Swallow, 2
Willow Warbler, 1
Chiffchaff, 1
Sedge Warbler, 1
Reed Warbler, 1
Showing well and calling in fen
Whitethroat, 1
Greenfinch, 2
Shelduck, 11, 6 ad/ 5 J, (Gareth Morgan)
Avocet, 6
Knot, 1
On Island lake from N screen
Dunlin, 1
On Island lake from Causeway
Reed Warbler, 1, M
Fenland, showed well from causeway
Whitethroat, 1, M
Fenland
Gadwall, 6, (Geoff Carefoot)
Tufted Duck, 4
Swift, 6
Moorhen, 3
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Greenfinch, 1, m
15th May 2026
Reed Warbler, 1, (Mark Breaks)
Singing in fen
12th May 2026
Little Ringed Plover
Including Spanish colour ringed bird
Common Sandpiper, 1
Shelduck, 11, (Geoff Carefoot)
Includes pair with 5 ducklings
Tufted Duck, 4, 2 pairs
Coot, 2
Avocet, 5
All 5 birds feeding...
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Still running around in tandem
Curlew, 1
Bathing, probable local breeder.
Buzzard, 1
low bird over at 17.50 put everything up.
9th May 2026
Shelduck, 7, (Mark Breaks)
Pair with five ducklings
Ringed Plover, 1
Canada Goose, 0, (Geoff Carefoot)
Uncounted but three hatched broods
Shelduck, 11
Includes 5 ducklings trailing female
Shoveler, 1, Male
Gadwall, 5
Mallard, 6, Drakes
Tufted Duck, 4, 2m 2 f
Moorhen, 3
Coot, 2
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Oystercatcher, 4
Avocet, 5
3 feeding
Lapwing, 4
Whimbrel, 1
One only at 18.00
Curlew, 1
Bathing
Redshank, 1
Black-headed Gull, 0
Present
Grey Heron, 1
Flew in but immediately seen off by all.
Jackdaw, 11
Swallow, 2
Sedge Warbler, 1, M
Pied Wagtail (yarrellii), 1, M
4th May 2026
Wood Sandpiper, 1, (Mark Breaks)
Mediterranean Gull, 2
First winters
Sedge Warbler, 1
Whitethroat, 2
Great Crested Grebe, 2, (Jen Coates)
Avocet, 5
Lapwing, 4
Little Ringed Plover, 3
Common Sandpiper, 1
Wood Sandpiper, 1
Buzzard, 1
Whitethroat, 1
Little Grebe, 2, (Geoff Carefoot)
Not seen, trilling in cover
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Avocet, 5
Whimbrel, 11, Bathing
14.00
Wood Sandpiper, 1
Mediterranean Gull, 1
Adult
3rd May 2026
Canada Goose, 20
4 still sitting
Shelduck, 6
3 pairs
Shoveler, 1, Drake
Gadwall, 8
Mallard, 8
Tufted Duck, 6, 3 Pairs
Stock Dove, 1
Collared Dove, 2
Great Crested Grebe, 2, Pair
Oystercatcher, 4
Avocet, 5
Lapwing, 4
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Curlew, 2
Bathing
Redshank, 1
Greenshank, 2
Black-headed Gull, 50
20 nests, 13 on rafts, 7 on island
Jackdaw, 15
Sand Martin, 20
Willow Warbler, 2
Chiffchaff, 3
Sedge Warbler, 2, mm
From public footpath
Garden Warbler, 1, M
End of PF
Pied Wagtail (yarrellii), 1
Greenfinch, 1, m
Still 'wheezing'.
2nd May 2026
Whimbrel, 113, (Mark Breaks)
Roosted
1st May 2026
Avocet, 5, (Geoff Carefoot)
Whimbrel, 6
At noon.
30th April 2026
Whimbrel, 83
In to roost by 21.00
Curlew, 2
Roosting.
29th April 2026
Shelduck, 5, (Jen Coates)
Gadwall, 10
Teal, 2
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Oystercatcher, 2
Avocet, 5
Lapwing, 4
Little Ringed Plover, 3
Whimbrel, 78
By 9pm
Curlew, 4
Bar-tailed Godwit, 1
Common Sandpiper, 1
Redshank, 1
Sand Martin, 50
Swallow, 20
27th April 2026
Whimbrel, 67, (Mark Breaks)
Roosted
Curlew, 5
Bar-tailed Godwit, 1
Roosted with whimbrel
26th April 2026
Greylag Goose, 2, (Geoff Carefoot)
Shelduck, 8, 4 pairs
Tufted Duck, 5
3 drakes
Stock Dove, 1
Moorhen, 4
One still sitting
Great Crested Grebe, 2, pair
Now back in possession of their nest.
Avocet, 4
Feeding directly in front of viewing screens, nearest birds.
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Common Sandpiper, 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2
Jay, 2
Flew up from beneath Oak trees
Cetti's Warbler, 1, M
Heard calling from lake side of public footpath
Long-tailed Tit, 2
Nest prospecting
Sedge Warbler, 2, MM
Both sides of public footpath
24th April 2026
Pheasant, 2, Pair
Shelduck, 6
Avocet, 4
One pair now at previous nest site
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Whimbrel, 31
In to roost for first of 2 co-ordinated dusk whimbrel counts
Curlew, 3
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Came in with small whimbrel flock
Common Sandpiper, 1
Redshank, 1
Great Black-backed Gull, 1
Sand Martin, 0
Absent, unlike previous evenings.
23rd April 2026
Canada Goose, 20
Shelduck, 8, 4 pairs
Shoveler, 2, Pair
Gadwall, 2, Pair
Mallard, 7, All males
Teal, 2, Pair
Stock Dove, 2
Moorhen, 4
One still sitting tight on small island.
Great Crested Grebe, 2
At last! Pair spent all morning building nest in flooded willow only to have it usurped by 2 BHGs.
Oystercatcher, 6
Avocet, 4
A female 'adopted the position' but male not interested
Lapwing, 4
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Common Sandpiper, 1
feeding
Redshank, 2
Noisy
Black-headed Gull, 30
2 (males?) in long and serious combat for possession of small tern nest raft.
Great Black-backed Gull, 2
Cormorant, 2
Grey Heron, 1
Osprey, 1
Aparantly one passage bird reported successfully fishing yesterday.
Kestrel, 1
Jackdaw, 14
Dunnock, 2
Greenfinch, 1, m
Goldfinch, 5
Reed Bunting, 1, m
21st April 2026
Canada Goose, 45
38 in neighbouring field
Shelduck, 8
4 pairs busily feeding at dusk
Shoveler, 2, Pair
Asleep throughout my visit
Gadwall, 8
4 joined by 4 later birds,
Mallard, 7
Dusk visit, only Island lake monitored.
Teal, 1
Drake only seen
Tufted Duck, 2, Pair
Moorhen, 4
Oystercatcher, 6
Avocet, 4
Two separate pairs still feeding at 20.50
Lapwing, 5
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Whimbrel, 6
Arrived at 19.35 but left at 20,00. returned at 20.25 and started bathing.
Curlew, 2
2 arrived together at 20.35 with male pursuing female for copulation.
Common Sandpiper, 1
Redshank, 2
Two birds feeding....until male mounted female.
Black-headed Gull, 12
Only island lake observed
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1
Departed before sunset
Magpie, 2
Jackdaw, 11
Sand Martin, 30
Swallow, 2
Grey Wagtail, 1, f
Pied Wagtail (yarrellii), 2, Both males
20th April 2026
Canada Goose, 25
Shelduck, 2
Now reduced to one pair.
Gadwall, 2, Pair
Teal, 1
Only drake seen.
Tufted Duck, 2
Pair seen
Moorhen, 5
Nest on island
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Oystercatcher, 6
Avocet, 4
All 4 together, very vocal, flighty and boisterous.
Lapwing, 5
Nest on island
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Black-headed Gull, 39
Mainly on nesting rafts.
Mediterranean Gull, 1
None seen but one heard in flight over Grimsargh
Cormorant, 1
Grey Heron, 1
Jay, 1
Flew up from acorn dump.
Sand Martin, 5
Greenfinch, 3, Males
Seem to be an increase in territories this year?
19th April 2026
Pheasant, 1, male
Canada Goose, 25
Shelduck, 9
4 pairs and a spare female.
Gadwall, 2, Pair
Mallard, 7
Moorhen, 4
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Avocet, 4
2 presumed pairs still feeding at 20.40
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Whimbrel, 15
Small flock of 15 in at 20.05 the only roosters
Curlew, 1
A latecomer calling then bathing
Redshank, 1
Black-headed Gull, 49
Many hawking insects at dusk
Cormorant, 1
Grey Heron, 1
Sand Martin, 8
Pied Wagtail (yarrellii), 1, Male
18th April 2026
Canada Goose, 28
Shelduck, 4
2 pars at 09.45 and 13.10
Gadwall, 2
Pair at 15.10
Gadwall, 2
Pair at15.10
Mallard, 4
Stock Dove, 1, Attracted to island
Oystercatcher, 6
Avocet, 4
Two pairs deep feeding at 09.45
Avocet, 4
Deep feeding at 15.10
Lapwing, 6
Little Ringed Plover, 2
Feeding at 09.45
Little Ringed Plover, 3
At 15.10
Common Sandpiper, 1
Redshank, 1
Black-headed Gull, 56
Black-headed Gull, 25, circa
Mainly on nesting rafts at 15.10
Mediterranean Gull, 4
2 pairs
Great Black-backed Gull, 1
Herring Gull, 3
Jackdaw, 7
Attracted to island
Sand Martin, 5
Paying little interest to nesting cabinet recording!
Greenfinch, 1, m
Tree-top wheezer at 15.10
16th April 2026
Shelduck, 8, 4 pairs
Great Crested Grebe, 2, Pair
Showing little inclination to nest build.
Avocet, 2, Pair
Deep feeding - dabbling
Mediterranean Gull, 6, 3 pairs
Not departed yet...
Great Tit, 2, MM
Willow Warbler, 2, M.M. singers
Chiffchaff, 3, Males - singers.
Sedge Warbler, 1, m
Chattering in Fen
Grasshopper Warbler, 1, M
Reeling from behind Public footpath screen.
Robin, 2
Presumed pair carrying food.
Dunnock, 4
2 pairs?
Reed Bunting, 2, mm
14th April 2026
Shelduck, 9, (Jen Coates)
Shoveler, 2
Tufted Duck, 3
Oystercatcher, 4
Avocet, 2
Lapwing, 8
Common Sandpiper, 2
Redshank, 2
Mediterranean Gull, 6
Great Black-backed Gull, 1
Grey Heron, 1
Sand Martin, 4
Swallow, 2
Willow Warbler, 1
Chiffchaff, 1
Blackcap, 1
Linnet, 1
13th April 2026
Shelduck, 8, (Geoff Carefoot)
Gadwall, 4
Teal, 2, Pair
Tufted Duck, 7
Moorhen, 4
Nest on small island
Coot, 2
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Pair
Oystercatcher, 6
Avocet, 2
Lapwing, 6
Common Sandpiper, 1
Black-headed Gull, 60
Mediterranean Gull, 2
Great Black-backed Gull, 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1
Willow Warbler, 2
Chiffchaff, 4
Greenfinch, 3
singers
Reed Bunting, 5
12th April 2026
Whimbrel, 3, (Mark Breaks)
9th April 2026
Common Scoter, 1, M, (Geoff Carefoot)
Mere
Tufted Duck, 9
Mere.
Sand Martin, 15
Arrived overnight
Swallow, 1
House Martin, 1
Greenfinch, 1, m
Singer
8th April 2026
Shelduck, 14, (David Bickerton)
Avocet, 2
Mediterranean Gull, 2
Buzzard, 1
Willow Warbler, 2
Willow Warbler, 1, (Mark Breaks)
Grasshopper Warbler, 1
Reeling in fen
Canada Goose, 0, (Geoff Carefoot)
2, .....'2' many!
Shelduck, 12
6 pairs
Gadwall, 4
2 pairs
Mallard, 6
Teal, 4
2 pairs
Tufted Duck, 7
Stock Dove, 1
Moorhen, 3
Coot, 4
Little Grebe, 1
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Pair
Oystercatcher, 6
Avocet, 2
Lapwing, 11
Little Ringed Plover, 3
Dipslay flights over islands, with Graham Hulme at 08,00
Black-headed Gull, 40
Mediterranean Gull, 25
Early visit with Graham Hulme. Birds very obviously paired up.
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2
Cormorant, 1
Jay, 1
Jackdaw, 13
2 birds plucking small white feathers from gull corpse, then flew to farm.
Willow Warbler, 2
singers
Chiffchaff, 4
Singers
Wheatear, 1
Male reported yesterday.
Bullfinch, 1, Female
Greenfinch, 2
singers
Reed Bunting, 4