Avocets on the increase
After a cold and wet day yesterday, the return of sunshine has bought with it more Avocet to add to the reserve count
After a cold and wet day yesterday, the return of sunshine has bought with it more Avocet to add day count, with potentially 137 birds across the reserve this morning.
The Glossy Ibis continues to show well next to the cattle barns in the roadside fields immediately as you come over the canal bridge on your approach to the Visitor Centre.
South Lake
A total of 115 Avocet were on the scrape this morning, with most birds at roost but a few pairs going through courtship display and thinking about nest building. A small flock of Black-tailed Godwit were joined by more birds from the Top New Piece, bringing the South Lake count to 182 birds with at least six Knot and two Redshank hidden amongst them. Seven Snipe were on the edge of the causeway outside the Hogarth Hide along with a pair of Oystercatcher over on the Duck Marsh. Duck across the South Lake area included 21 Shoveler, and on the deep lake was a single female Goldeneye with 32 Tufted Duck. Check the trees at the back of the deep lake too as two Snipe have taken to roosting in trees here.
Kingfisher Hide
Three Golden Plover were on the Bottom New Piece, nestled in the rushes with at least nine Lapwing also present. Two singing Cetti's Warbler were noted, along with two singing Chiffchaff competing either side of the hide. Also out on the Bottom New Piece were two pairs of Shoveler.
Estuary Tower
A flock of 88 Golden Plover flew over high up this morning calling. Out on the Dumbles were the White-fronted Goose flock which contained 179 Russian race birds, two Greenland race birds and two Pink-footed Geese. The high tide roost contained 62 Curlew, with 164 Shelduck spread across the Dumbles, Lower Dumbles and around the riverbank to the Royal Drift in the south. Six Great Black-backed Gulls were also noted, and three Pintail were on the river.
To the north in the Goose Fields were two Great Egret, and to the south of the Dumbles were a pair of Peregrine sat on the cross fence.
Zeiss Hide
A flock of 218 Black-tailed Godwit were on the Top New Piece, in addition to those birds on the South Lake. Two Little Egret were again here and moved over the hedge to the Bottom New Piece, a Snipe was close to the hide in the reedbed and out on the field were at least four displaying male Lapwing, a small rug of 88 Wigeon, and four Avocet were on the scrape.
Rushy Hide
Only six Pintail on the upper pond this morning, with 14 Avocet on the lower pond. Three Wigeon were with the long-staying hybrid on the causeway and four Black-tailed Godwit dropped in. A single Pochard was also seen.
Robbie Garnett Hide
Wigeon numbers continue to drop with only 295 on the Tack Piece this morning. The three Snow Geese dropped in during high tide having been on the Dumbles riverbank. Also around the scrape on the Tack Piece were a single Redshank and 20 Shoveler.
