Rushenden Marshes 09/06/21

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A glorious morning for the 2nd (late) Breeding Bird Survey at this site, with 34 species in total being recorded. Plenty of activity from the usual warblers: Sedge, Reed, and Whitethroat. Two Buzzard also seen, plus two Green Sandpipers, the waders presumably very early southbound migrants. Rushenden is a very good site for Green Sandpiper, two also being found at the same time last year during the survey, in addition to regular sightings in winter for WeBS.

However, the highlight of the visit was finding two broods of Pochard, each with seven ducklings. An even bigger family of Gadwall contained ten ducklings.

Family of Pochard

2nd family of Pochard

Common Buzzard



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