CBC Wildlife News
Records submitted in the last 14 days, most recent first. Amber indicates local or uncommon, bold red indicates a description is needed for verification at county or national level, green indicates category D (reasonable doubt of natural occurrence) or category E (escapes or non-sustaining introductions).
Thu 17 September 2026
Thu 17 September 2026
2 Marsh Harrier (Adult & orange-headed juv. north of Watling water) ,
2
Spotted Redshank
(One initially, joined by another in front of Babcock, just before 10am. Some stunning views.)
,
4 Pink-footed Goose (A few in with the canadas & greylags near swan lake, which now has a tiny amount of water in it.) ,
[John Fairey]
Thu 17 September 2026
7 Egyptian Goose (Pat's) ,
4 Pintail (2 Brackish, 2 Arnold's) ,
2 Little Grebe (Main Drain) ,
1 Grey Heron ,
4 Little Egret ,
13 Cormorant ,
10 Avocet (Pat's) ,
26 Curlew ,
95 Black-tailed Godwit (mainly Pat's) ,
40 Redshank ,
1 Snipe (Pat's) ,
25 Ruff (21 ad m, 1 juv m, 3 ad f, Pat's) ,
1 Pectoral Sandpiper (Pat's) ,
20 Dunlin ,
2 Marsh Harrier ,
[David & Pat Wileman]
Wed 16 September 2026
4
Glossy Ibis
(Appeared three minutes later than the night before! Dropped on Simmonds ahead of roosting. )
,
5
Caspian Gull
(A whole new set of five compared to the birds of the previous evening. Nice mix of ages again. )
,
8
Yellow-legged Gull
(At least 8 birds seen, again several that weren't in the day before. Some big beefy adults in the mix. )
,
1000 Lesser Black-backed Gull (Minimum count, give or take 50 either way. There were a lot out there. ) ,
350 Herring Gull (Minimum count ) ,
250 Pink-footed Goose (Large group on Bull Marsh, small groups over westwards too. ) ,
8 Snipe ,
10 Dunlin ,
30 Black-tailed Godwit (The mystery "blonde" godwit seen again, but - again - distant and in average light. Seems unlikely to be a young limosa but this colour variant within islandica is super unusual. No photos unfortunately. ) ,
20 Common Gull ,
800 Black-headed Gull (Minimum count ) ,
3 Marsh Harrier ,
[Mark Golley]
Wed 16 September 2026
c.10 Sandwich Tern ,
4 Red-throated Diver (East and 2 on sea before flying West) ,
20 Common Scoter (17 West 3 East mostly drakes) ,
5 Gannet ,
6 Common Tern (Mostly over wreck) ,
5 Shelduck (Flock West) ,
4 Teal (West) ,
1 Arctic Skua (West) ,
1 Raven (West over Eye field) ,
1 Razorbill (On sea) ,
1 Tufted Duck (Drake West) ,
1 Oystercatcher (West) ,
1 Wheatear (On fence Eye field) ,
1 Black Guillemot (Juv seen by J McCu on sea) ,
[David Fell]
Wed 16 September 2026
119 Canada Goose (at least Eye Field, counted from E Bank) ,
1 Grey Heron (Brackish) ,
1 Little Egret (Arnold's) ,
23 Cormorant (Arnold's) ,
1 Water Rail (heard, E Bank) ,
5 Avocet (Pat's) ,
47 Curlew (incl. 42 E of E Bank ) ,
3 Bar-tailed Godwit (with Curlew off E Bank) ,
108 Black-tailed Godwit ,
24 Redshank ,
4 Snipe (Pat's) ,
27 Ruff (19 ad m, 4 ad f, 1 juv m , Pat's, 3 incl 1 sat Arnold's) ,
10 Knot (flock of juvs on Arnold's briefly c. 08:00 before continuing W) ,
5 Sanderling (flock of juvs on Arnold's briefly c. 08:05 before continuing W) ,
27 Dunlin ,
1 Grey Plover (superb ad summ on Arnold's at 08:10) ,
2 Sandwich Tern (Arnold's) ,
1 Buzzard (over N Foreland) ,
1 Marsh Harrier (fem) ,
1 Kingfisher (Pat's) ,
[David & Pat Wileman]
Tue 15 September 2026
4
Caspian Gull
(Two scraggy looking 1CY, a smarter 2CY and at least one, possibly two ok-ish adults)
,
11 Yellow-legged Gull (Nice range of ages, from relatively unmoulted 1CY through to smart adults. Two nice looking 2CYs and mean looking 3 & 4 CYs as well) ,
4
Glossy Ibis
(Came in from the east and circled Simmonds at 1915, showing really nicely in front of Daukes until dusk. )
,
2 Little Stint (Flighty juveniles with the Dunlin flock) ,
20 Dunlin ,
35 Ruff (Minimum count ) ,
25 Black-tailed Godwit (Icelandic) ,
1 Black-tailed Godwit (European) (Very brief views of what *may* have been a 1CY limosa on Pat's, distant and flushed by Marsh Harrier. Very unusual date for this age of it was one... ) ,
275 Lesser Black-backed Gull ,
150 Herring Gull ,
200
Pink-footed Goose
(A few small groups over and off west plus at least 100 on the deck on Simmonds, several droppy-winged juveniles - first long flights having an effect on their muscles? )
,
[Mark Golley]
Tue 15 September 2026
Tue 15 September 2026
450
Pink-footed Goose
(at least, several flocks passing west over the Reserve or along the shore throughout the morning. Some groups dropping in briefly)
,
4 Spoonbill (1 adult, 3 juvs) ,
2 Little Stint ,
14 Dunlin ,
12 Ruff ,
1
Hobby
(west over the reserve)
,
70 Swallow (at least, small groups moving west over the reserve througout the morning ) ,
[Rob Lee]
Tue 15 September 2026
209 Canada Goose (flew E between 07:15 and 08 30) ,
12 Pink-footed Goose (roosted on Pat's) ,
8 Egyptian Goose (Pat's) ,
4 Spoonbill (ad + 3 imm, Pat's at 08:04) ,
1 Grey Heron (Brackish) ,
1 Glossy Ibis (Arnold's at 7:55 then left) ,
2 Little Egret (Arnold's) ,
19 Cormorant ,
1 Oystercatcher (Arnold's) ,
12 Avocet (Pat's) ,
97 Black-tailed Godwit (Pat's) ,
1 Black-tailed Godwit (European) (1 cy, Pat's) ,
24 Curlew (Arnold's/E Bank) ,
1 Snipe (Pat's) ,
34 Redshank ,
23 Ruff (incl. 14 ad m, 2 juv m, 2 ad f) ,
22 Dunlin ,
1 Little Stint (Pat's) ,
1 Marsh Harrier ,
1 Kestrel (fem, Arnold's fence) ,
[David & Pat Wileman]