Recent Sightings at Grimsargh Wetland
16th March 2025
Tufted Duck, 14, (David Hindle)
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Oystercatcher, 7
Avocet, 2
0930hrs Lancs inland avocets return
Mediterranean Gull, 7
with b h gulls
15th March 2025
Canada Goose, 0, (Geoff Carefoot)
Uncounted
Shelduck, 11
Gadwall, 4
Mallard, 20
Tufted Duck, 21
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Interacting
Oystercatcher, 6
Lapwing, 0
Uncounted
Snipe, 2
Black-headed Gull, 134
Mediterranean Gull, 14
Herring Gull, 1
Cormorant, 1
Buzzard, 1
Chiffchaff, 1, (David Hindle)
sinsing on the fen, year first for me
13th March 2025
Shelduck, 7, (Geoff Carefoot)
Tufted Duck, 21
Moorhen, 5
Coot, 1
Winter population here has crashed.
Great Crested Grebe, 1
Oystercatcher, 6
Mediterranean Gull, 4
In sum' plum'.
Buzzard, 3
Circling together
Kestrel, 1, Male
Hunting embankments
Blue Tit, 2
Investigating nest box.
Wren, 2
10th March 2025
Shelduck, 2, (David Hindle)
Teal, 2, pair
Oystercatcher, 6
Avocet, 1
being chased in flight by black headed gull
Curlew, 48
landed on big island 1440
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
asleep on big island
9th March 2025
Black-tailed Godwit, 1, (Mark Breaks)
Mediterranean Gull, 14
7th March 2025
Shelduck, 13
Gadwall, 7
Curlew, 298
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Shelduck, 8, (David Hindle)
Gadwall, 5
Lapwing, 86
roosting with curlews
Curlew, 186
pre breeding roost observed from 1745 to 1820
Black-headed Gull, 8
only 8 suggests probably roosting elsewhere
6th March 2025
Shelduck, 7
Gadwall, 4
Black-headed Gull, 180
Mediterranean Gull, 2
Grey Heron, 1
5th March 2025
Shelduck, 19, (Mark Breaks)
Gadwall, 10
Curlew, 400
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Mediterranean Gull, 7
Mediterranean Gull, 9, (Geoff Carefoot)
Numbers building nicely
4th March 2025
Canada Goose, 45
Shelduck, 11
Gadwall, 11
Teal, 9
Tufted Duck, 9
Moorhen, 3
Coot, 1
My lowest count on this site in 7 years
Little Grebe, 2
2 seen but no G-c Grebes today
Oystercatcher, 6
Lapwing, 58
Curlew, 3
Only 3 remaining from large overnight roost at 08:45
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Black-headed Gull, 65
Grey Heron, 1
Peregrine, 1
A circling bird spooked most of the waders
2nd March 2025
Shelduck, 11, (Glenn Higgins)
Gadwall, 7
Tufted Duck, 14
Little Grebe, 1
Lapwing, 71
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Black-headed Gull, 50
Mediterranean Gull, 2
Common Gull, 3
28th February 2025
Shelduck, 18, (Mark Breaks)
Gadwall, 14
Wigeon, 1
Teal, 7
Tufted Duck
Goosander, 1
Curlew, 541
Roosted
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Mediterranean Gull, 6
Common Gull, 4
Fieldfare, 50
Over
Moorhen, 4, (Geoff Carefoot)
Coot, 2
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Engaged in courtship
Oystercatcher, 5
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3
27th February 2025
Shelduck, 12, (David Bickerton)
Gadwall, 2
Teal, 5
Tufted Duck, 15
Great Crested Grebe, 2
Oystercatcher, 4
Lapwing, 42
Curlew, 1
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Black-headed Gull, 202
Common Gull, 1
Herring Gull, 5
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1
Dunnock, 1, Male singing
Greenfinch, 2, Males singing
Canada Goose, 50, (Geoff Carefoot)
Shelduck, 12
Seemingly paired, but still some vocal argy-bargy!
Gadwall, 6
Mallard, 10
Teal, 6
Tufted Duck, 12
Goosander, 1
A drake preening on the mere, very unusual here.
Moorhen, 4
Coot, 2
Surprisingly few.
Great Crested Grebe, 3
Two on the mere, one on the lake.
Oystercatcher, 5
Lapwing, 70
Curlew, 47
44 flew in ( see today's Alston count)
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Snipe, 7
Black-headed Gull, 50
Mediterranean Gull, 2
Vocal. At least two, one fully black-headed, t'other with a white face.
Herring Gull, 2
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1
Goldfinch, 8
24th February 2025
Shelduck, 20
My maximum count here
Tufted Duck, 24
Water Rail, 1
Seen earlier in the fen from the public footpath by Gerry Small
23rd February 2025
Shelduck, 10, (Mark Breaks)
Gadwall, 11
Wigeon, 1
Great Crested Grebe, 1
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Mediterranean Gull, 4
22nd February 2025
Shelduck, 3
Shoveler, 1
Gadwall, 5
Curlew, 345
Black-tailed Godwit, 1
Redwing, 12
19th February 2025
Teal, 20, (David Hindle)
Tufted Duck, 0
Oystercatcher, 2
Lapwing, 150
roosting with curlew flock
Curlew, 318
pre breeding roost underway, good total today with curlews still flying in at 1715hrs
Redshank, 1
early spring visitor
Grey Heron, 2
13th February 2025
Canada Goose, 197, (Geoff Carefoot)
Unwelcome return.
Gadwall, 6
Teal, 5
Tufted Duck, 14
Moorhen, 5
Coot, 2
Surprisingly small number for the date.
Oystercatcher, 4
Already paired?
Lapwing, 56
Curlew, 0
None at 10:00 but circa 100 by 14:00
Black-headed Gull, 17
Common Gull, 1
Cormorant, 2
Grey Heron, 1
Greenfinch, 1, m
Territorial 'wheezing' from tree tops
Goldfinch, 7
8th February 2025
Canada Goose, 6
Shelduck, 1
Mallard, 50
Teal, 6
Tufted Duck, 15
Moorhen, 5
Coot, 2
Great Crested Grebe, 1
Oystercatcher, 2
Lapwing, 259
Loafing on island
Curlew, 0
17 @ 09:30 but increased to circa 70 by 14:00
Snipe, 10
Black-headed Gull, 23
Cormorant, 3
Grey Heron, 1
Magpie, 3
Jackdaw, 12
Wren, 2
Pied Wagtail (yarrellii), 1
Greenfinch, 2, MM
"wheezing" tree-top calls
Siskin, 7
In tops of Alders
2nd February 2025
Canada Goose, 8
A very basic count today prior to essential maintenance
Shoveler, 8
Mallard, 50
Teal, 25
Tufted Duck, 14
Stock Dove, 1
Moorhen, 4
Coot, 2
Oystercatcher, 2
Presumed returning pair
Lapwing, 150
Curlew, 20
In flight.
Snipe, 25
Put up during maintenance
Black-headed Gull, 22
Grey Heron, 2
One chasing off an interloper.
Greenfinch, 1
Singer
Goldfinch, 10
30th January 2025
Curlew, 38, (Mark Breaks)
26th January 2025
Shelduck, 1
Teal, 18
Goosander, 1
Drake
Oystercatcher, 2
Lapwing, 955
Curlew, 2
Snipe, 11
Treecreeper, 2
Reed Bunting, 2
22nd January 2025
Shelduck, 1
Wigeon, 2
Tufted Duck, 23
Lapwing, 770
Curlew, 1
Snipe, 8
19th January 2025
Mute Swan, 2
Shelduck, 5
Lapwing, 650
Snipe, 20
Little Egret, 1
Mallard, (Geoff Carefoot)
Teal, 6
Tufted Duck, 6
Lapwing, 550
Took off during count...
Snipe, 18
Some possible recounts
Black-headed Gull, 6
Herring Gull, 1
Grey Heron, 2
Interacting
Little Egret, 1
Very scarce here but been present for a few days.
Great Tit, 2
Long-tailed Tit, 6
Nuthatch, 0
Singer
Dunnock, 3
Grey Wagtail, 1
Disturbed during maintenance
Goldfinch, 15
17th January 2025
Shelduck, 1, (Mark Breaks)
Shoveler, 3
Teal, 8
Lapwing, 980
Snipe, 41
Little Egret, 1