A little visible migration
A few birds moving this morning in the clear conditions
Estuary Tower
Two female Merlin on the fence and driftwood at Middle point.
Meadow Pipits and a Redpoll over SE, tit flock moving through the hedges with Coal Tit (uncommon bird on the reserve), a Goldcrest, 2-3 Reed Bunting, a Chiffchaff and a flock of 30 feeding Goldfinch. A single Grey and 10 Pied Wagtail on the scrape until spooked by a Merlin.
A Little Egret fed on the 'Pill Box Pool'.
Middle Point
Prior to the tide coming in there was a Peregrine, a flock of 180 Dunlin with a Little Stint on the mudlfats close in plus Shelduck and Curlew on the mudflats. In addition 32 Golden Plover flew over SE, a single alba Wagtail over SE, 7 and 11 Skylark over SE, Siskin, Redpoll over,. A female Wheatear, 8 Linnet, 10+ Meadow Pipit, 6 Reed Bunting and a Rock Pipit all at the point. The two Merlins seemed to head to the fields to the North.
6 Blackbird and the Coal Tit from Estuary Tower was in the hedges.
Goose House Ground
The two Whinchat and 3+ Stonechat continue to feed on the South side of the field, also 2 Swallow and 12 House Martin drifting SE, one of the female Marsh Harriers was hunting to North. The Kingfisher was along the ditch.
Tack Piece
Nine juvenile Ruff among the 160 Teal, 15 Wigeon, Great Black-backed Gull and 2 Pintail, + Chiffchaff and Grey Wagtail at Willow Hide.
Rushy Hide
Four Redshank, 7 Ruff (all adults), 15 Lapwing 48 Tufted Duck, Pochard, 8 Pintail, 14 Shoveler, 8 Shelduck, 3 Wigeon + the male Chiloe Wigeon hybrid, Pied and Grey Wagtail, 300+ Teal and 80 Mallard .
Martin Smith Hide
A single Jay.
Duck Decoy
Male and 2 female Mandarin and 2 Shoveler among the ducks present also Chiffchaff.
South Lake
110 Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Ruff, 4 Redshank, 150 Lapwing, uncounted flock of Teal, 33 Shoveler, Grey Heron, 11 Cormorant, 6 Pochard and flocks of Greylag and a Green Sandpiper from Hogarth Hide.
Top New Piece/Zeiss Hide
130 Wigeon, 16 Pintail, 22 Gadwall, 460 Teal, 12 Shoveler, 44 Dunlin and1 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, single Black-tailed Godwit, 55 Lapwing and a Chiffchaff in the reedbed.
Three Cranes on the Dumbles
