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National Trust - Wetlands Updates

​​2018 Wetland update. Jan—March
Over the winter period the wetland has held a flock of Wigeon and Teal. Around 300 of each have been using the site most days from December to the end of February. Both are now starting to disperse. 
Other duck species include up to 6 Tufted Duck and 5 Gadwall (4 male, 1 female). Gadwall are a dabbling duck that like marshy wetlands. In March duck species start displaying with the males seen fighting off other males in order to find a female. I saw the Gadwall displaying (22nd March) which could indicate a breeding attempt which would be good. 

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Circle Dancing
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The photos above show the intruding displaying male getting chased away by the male with the female. The conspicuous white wing panel is the key to identifying this other-wise rather grey duck. They are often hiding in the reeds so then there quack is the only way they give away there presence, this being a deeper and shorter tone than of the mallards.
Another secretive species is the Water Rail. These are more often heard than seen with there distinctive high pitched squealing call becoming evocative of an early morning down on the wetland.
​I managed a glimpse of one from the hide.
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Skulking Water Rail
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Bold Moorhen
The thin red bill is distinctive to its often mistaken identity of the Moorhen. Also as pointed out above the tail feathers are different. Side by side big white flashes of the Moorhen and slight triangle shaped of the rail help separate them even on the briefest of views.
Single Pied Wagtails are common place in most gardens and towns but to see 120 of them sitting in the oak tree dropping to drink in the wet flush next to the hide was pretty cool.
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Little Grebes once again are putting on a good show fishing in front of the hide. There characteristic trilling calls heard from early March were a sign to me that Spring has arrived. 12 individuals have been counted on site.
Daily counts of 12 Little Egret are a sign that this species clearly is on the increase with fields and ditches nearby also holding additional birds. Most leave for roost in the direction of Leighton Moss with a handful flying north west to a site further up the Lyth.
A female Hen Harrier was seen on a couple of occasions earlier in the year. This individual was later seen going through Leighton Moss. A female Marsh Harrier was also seen. A Kingfisher can still be seen perching from the hide with dawn and dusk best to see it.
3 Stonechat have wintered on site with one showing occasionally from the hide perching on the kingfisher posts.
The first Swallow was seen on 7th April and 12 Sand Martin on the 8th.
Other sightings
8 Canada geese
12 Greylag geese (with 1 Pink footed goose with them)
Daily Sparrowhawk and Kestrel
Any day now Sedge Warblers will be arriving. Grasshopper warblers also will start reeling shortly after.
Other news
During March reed planting was carried out on the southern section with the fence being moved further out thus creating a larger area to plant in. The volunteer team spent the day digging clumps of reed and re planting around the edges of the channels.
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Final note
Creating memories here…
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Find out more about other local activities and regular events

Wetland Bird List

Little Grebe (B)
Cormorant
Bittern (W)
Heron
Little Egret
Mute Swan (B)
Whooper Swan (W)
Pink Footed Goose (W)
Greylag Goose (B) 
Canada Goose (B)
Shelduck
Wigeon (W)
American Wigeon (Ra)
Gadwall
Teal
Mallard (B)
Garganey  (S)
Pintail (W)
Shoveler
Pochard (W)
Tufted Duck (B)
Scaup (W,S)
Goldeneye (W)
Goosander
Marsh Harrier
Hen Harrier (W)
Goshawk Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Red Kite
Opsrey
Kestrel
Peregrine
Pheasant (B)
Water Rail
Moorhen (B)
Coot (B)
Crane (Ra)
Oystercatcher (B)
Little Ringed Plover (S)
Ringed Plover (S) Lapwing (B)
Dunlin (S,W)
Ruff (S,W)
Jack Snipe (W) Snipe
Woodcock
Black Tailed Godwit (S,W)
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Curlew
Whimbrel (S) 
Redshank
Greenshank (S)
Green Sandpiper (S)
Common Sandpiper (S)
Black Headed Gull
Common Gull
Lesser Black Backed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black Backed Gull
Stock Dove
Wood Pigeon (B)
Collared Dove
Cuckoo (S)
Barn Owl
Tawny Owl
Swift (S)
Kingfisher
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Skylark
Sand Martin (S)
Swallow (S)
House Martin (S)
Tree Pipit (S)
Meadow Pipit
Yellow Wagtail (S)
Grey Wagtail
White Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Wren (B)
Dunnock
Robin (B)
Whinchat (S)
Stonechat (W)
Blackbird (B)
Fieldfare (W)
Song Thrush (B)
Redwing (W)
Mistle Thrush
Grasshopper Warbler (S)
Sedge Warbler (S)
Reed Warbler (S)
Blackcap (S)
​Whitethroat (S)

Chiffchaff (S)
Willow Warbler (S)
Goldcrest
Spotted Flycatcher (S)
Long Tailed Tit
Marsh Tit
Coal Tit
Great tit (B)
Blue Tit (B)
Nuthatch
Treecreeper
Jay
Magpie
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow (B)
Raven
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch (B)
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin
Linnet
Redpoll
Crossbill
Bullfinch
Hawfinch 
Reed Bunting (B)
Codes are as follows.
B – Breeding
S – Spring/Summer – seen on passage/breed
W – Winter – Winter visitor
Ra – Rare


Should appear/most wanted
Great crested grebe
Spoonbill
Cattle Egret
Great white egret
Smew
Hobby
Avocet
Golden Plover
Wood Sandpiper
Med Gull
Common Tern
Short Eared Owl
Redstart
Wheatear
Tree Sparrow
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Helsington and Brigsteer Village Hall
Underbarrow Road, Brigsteer,
​Kendal, Cumbria LA8 8AL
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  • Home
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  • Local Info
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