Green Sands

A summary of the more interesting sightings from today's late afternoon/early evening visit to Castle Lake;

Greylag Geese - another big increase in numbers, 250 present.
Pochard - 2 females and the sole duckling.
Scaup - the drake is still present and showed well from the hide.
Tufted Duck -  A pair with 5 young ducklings is the first breeding record this year.
Little Grebe - 20 today, my best count so far this year.
Little Egret - still 2 around though quite mobile.
Little Ringed Plover - only 3 seen today two of which were juveniles.
Redshank - 2 summer plumaged adults.
Green Sandpiper - 3 present, two below the hide (picture below).

Common Sandpiper - only two seen today.
Black-headed Gull - numbers continue to rise, 120 today, a mixture of adults and juveniles.
Common Gull - only a small increase with 10 adults present.

Others included 5 Mute Swan, 1 juvenile Shelduck, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 Yellow Wagtail.

Couldn't resist another Green Sandpiper picture from today;

Stoneybeck Lake held 3 Little Ringed Plover and at least 12 Pied Wagtail.