Thursday 8 April 2010

Eagle updates and official spring notification





A few updates on yesterdays Eagle sightings for those of you not on the forums. The sea eagle was picked up on the Humber from RSPB Blacktoft Sands at 16:30 yesterday, subsequently on Whitton sands feeding on a carcass, before finally being lost in the South Cave area at 19:30 last night. It was seen briefly again on Whitton sands this morning heading East towards Welton Water at 10:30 but no further sightings since - we'll wait and see.

Spring arrived properly today with the first butterflies - peacocks, small tortoiseshell and brimstones all being reported in and around the reserve. Grass snakes have been abundant from top to bottom on the site and the first yellow wagtail (Jeff Barker pic from last year) was confirmed on D res, with two white wagtails on O. The red head smew is still here along with at least four brambling, and little egret was on South Marsh East (distant pic), along with reed bunting (pic). Likewise there has been a big influx of blackcaps. The first passage black-tailed godwit was picked up coming in to roost on the marshes last night.