Black-headed Gulls on the South Lake breeding islands
A calm and sunny day encouraged our 'soon to be breeding' birds to take up their display and territoriality a notch. Black-headed Gulls covered the South Lake breeding islands on the deep lake and were very vocal. Avocets were sitting down on gravel islands, even a few female Lapwing came to see what the males had to offer by way of flight displays and territories.
Sightings today included
Estuary Tower
The Russia White-fronted Geese arrived on the Dumbles mid-morning, at least two Pink-footed Geese were with them. Two unringed Cranes also arrived today to join other Crane project birds as well as our resident wild recruited bird. A Merlin fed on a kill early afternoon. A male Wheatear on the Dumbles at south end near the 'saltpans', 8 Skylark, a female Pintail, 14 Avocet and 15 Shoveler were on the scrape, 144 Shelduck, 11 Curlew and 3 Raven on the mudflats.
Pill Box Pool
Calling Little Grebe and 70 Wigeon.
South Lake
Three male and 11 female Pochard, 4 Snipe (two in cut willows on deep lake), 102 Avocet, 26 Shoveler on wader scrape + 12 duck marsh, 28 Tufted Duck, 138 Black-tailed Godwit, adutl Mediterranean Gull, 2 pairs of Oystercatcher.
Rushy Hide/Peng Observatory
36 Shelduck, 24 Pintail, drake Mandarin, 3 Wigeon + hybrid male and 19 Avocet early morning.
Tack Piece
Three Snow Geese, 18 Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Pied Wagtail, 230 Wigeon, 11 Shelduck and a singing Reed Bunting.
Martin Smith Hide
Brimstone butterfly nectar-ing on Comfrey near to the bridge (also seen in the Rushy) and a calling Common Toad in the Rushy ditch.
Kingfisher Hide
The resident male Kingfisher was digging at the nest hole, a notable flock of 12 Reed Bunting and 10 Chaffinch feeding on Four Score field edge and at least 3 Chiffchaff and two Cetti's Warblers sang along the wooded pathway.
Grounds
A mixed flock of Lesser Redpoll, Siskin and Goldfinch near the Sanderson bridge.
Top New Piece
c30 Dunlin, 7 Lapwing, 140 Wigeon, 16 Teal, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Grey Heron, single Black-tailed Godwit, 24 Shelduck, 12 Canada Geese.
Bottom New Piece
Six Golden Plover, Kestrel, a pair of Pintail, 15 Teal, 8 Lapwing, Little Egret and a pair of Gadwall on the flood.
Glossy Ibis
Again on the roadside fields.
