A not so glossy ibis
A very thick mist covered the valley this morning and reduced visibility to a few metres and reduced counts from the hides. By lunchtime the reserve was once again bathed in sunshine, and the Glossy Ibis seen yesterday reappeared in front of the Zeiss Hide showing very well, but sadly not in the gorgeous adult summer plumage to reflect in the sunlight.
South Lake Hides
At least 4 Mediterranean Gulls were present this morning, our pair of adult and second summer, another adult and a first-winter bird. A pair of Great Crested Grebe were on the deep lake, as was a Little Grebe. The Oystercatchers continue to incubate near the hide, with the off-duty bird waiting patiently on the causeway. Just 7 Avocet were here as most continue to prefer the Dumbles scrape. Bart and Ruby, one of our pairs of Cranes, have begun exploring the duck marsh from the Hogarth Hide prospecting to nest here again.
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Zeiss Hide
Along with the Glossy Ibis birds here included 220 Black-tailed Godwit, 11 Avocet, a single Ruff and Redshank, 11 Gadwall, 22 Shelduck and 11 Teal. A Sedge Warbler is showing well and singing loudly in the reedbed in front of the hide.
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Holden Tower
Avocet on the scrape numbered 60 this morning, with a pair of Oystercatcher on the Pill Box Pool the other side of the seawall. A Peregrine was seen over the Dumbles towards lunchtime. Crane activity remains the best here with birds regularly seen on the Dumbles, on the Tack Piece looking to the north, or the pasture fields further north. A quick tally reveals that at least 20 birds have been recorded here in the last few weeks, including an unringed adult - not our chick from 2015 we call Slim.
