A couple more Bewick's Swans
A cold night resulted in frozen water on the shallow scrapes, it thawed rapidly to allow the birds back on.
Rushy Pen
Another two Bewick's Swans arrived this morning and joined the pair (Tool and Times) with cygnet. The duck numbers continue to build as the weather gets cooler and more winter migrants arrive on the reserve. A single Redshank fed among the duck on the lower lake.
More details of Bewick's Swan movement can be seen here... https://www.flightoftheswans.org/
Robbie Garnett Hide
Grey Wagtail, 60 Teal and 120 Wigeon.
Holden Tower
At least four Chiffchaff early morning, 2 Bulfinch, Song Thrush and a few House Sparrow in the bushes below the hide. Out on the saltmarsh a mixed flock of geese contained 300+ Canada, 232 Barnacle and 40 Eurasian White-fronted Geese. A Merlin was reported on the Dumbles again and the Marsh Harrier was still about today.
South Lake
A flock of 35 Black-tailed Godwit and 18 Redshank were among low numbers of duck on the waders scrape plus 2 Snipe. On the deep lake the duck numbers were good with 87 Shoveler, 61 Tufted Duck and 10 Pochard among the Mallard. Three Cattle Egrets roosted but left and were seen feeding among cattle in the village later in the morning.
Zeiss Hide
1400 Wigeon, 250 Teal and a few Pintail on the flood. A small flock of Dunlin and at least one Ruff.
South Finger Reed bed
Little Grebe and Chiffchaff at the settling pool, 3 Fieldfare in the hedges.
