9th Spoonbill of 2024
Our last Spoonbill sightings were in June when four immatures were noted together, this was likely to be three passage birds joining a long-stayer, they all moved on. Today's bird was the ninth individual of the year. This one appeared to be an older bird but refused to wake and and move when observed this morning. As is often the case, it favoured the islands at the Top New Piece for a rest.
Other sightings today included.
Middle Point
Flocks totalling around 120 Dunlin and 50 Ringed Plover also had a Sanderling for company. The usual Grey Heron, Curlew, Shelduck and Black-headed Gull flocks fed with a number of large gulls (c100 juveniles) and 15 Little and 2 Great Egret in the high tide roosts.
South Lake
Early morning counts of single Spotted Redshank (3rd individual on site at the moment), 225 Black-tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper, 11 Redshank, 54 Lapwing, 13 Ruff + flocks of Shoveler, Teal, Tufted Duck, Pochard and Greylag Geese + singing Willow Warbler.
Rushy Hide/Peng Observatory
Adult and juvenile Avocet, 8 Redshank, 2 Snipe, 2 Ruff, 2 Spotted Redshank, 13 Lapwing and 50 Black-tailed Godwit + Pochard, Wigeon, 22 Teal and flocks of Mallard and Gadwall this morning.
*Please note* Some building maintenance planned for tomorrow (12 August) adjacent to Scott House and studio, Old Swan Observatory and Peng Observatory. The top pond of the Rushy likely to see some short-term localised disturbance, birds may move to South Lake or Tack Piece.
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Saturday 10 August
South Lake Discovery hide
14 Ruff, 36 Redshank,1 Spotted Redshank ,188 Black-tailed Godwit, 25 Lapwing, 42 Teal,12 Shoveler, 28 Gadwall, 1 Black Swan, 1 LBB Gull, 24 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Crested Grebe,1 Kingfisher, 4 Cormorant.
Top New Piece from Zeiss Hide
Cranes - Oakie and Sherbert and juvenile, 103 Teal, 18 Shoveler, 10 Black-tailed Godwit and a few Gadwall.
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Friday 9 August
A Bittern was on the Top New Piece viewable from the Van de Bovenkamp and Zeiss Hides.
Estuary Tower-Dumbles
Full of Swift, Barn Swallow, Sand Martin and House Martin around 200+ birds, majority were Swift. Also 70 Linnet and a Crane (Evie).
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Thursday 8 August
Juvenile Goshawk hunting Wood Pigeons over the car park at 4.45pm.
South Lake
Two Dunlin, 92 Black-tailed godwit, 38 Lapwing, 1 Little Egret, 13 Ruff, 7 Redshank, 5 Pochard, 3 Spotted Redshank, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 431 Black-headed Gull, 47 Teal, 1 Jay, 42 Gadwall, 32 Shoveler, 1 Black Swan, 1 Common Gull, 1 Kestrel.
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Wednesday 7 August
Middle Point
Twelve adult Turnstone, 2 breeding plumage Red Knot, 13 Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin together in one flock on the mud, another 40-50 small waders Ringed Plover/Dunlin seen in flight but didn't settle.
