Bright frosty morning but thawing rapidly
Holden Tower
High tide at 09.30 this morning pushed 1000 Wigeon onto the Dumbles edge. There were 180 Barnacle and 100 Canada Geese but no sign of the Brent so far. There were 20 GBB Gulls in the roost and 14 Redshank scattered along the edge. At least 6 Skylark were pushed of the saltmarsh and a flock of 40 Golden Plover flying around. There was a Water rail at the willow hide, 4 Ravens passing over and 11 Cranes on the Tack piece.
Some great raptor activity through the morning with two scraping male Peregrines and a Marsh Harrier. The Whitefront flock (142) dropped into the Tack Piece mid morning
Rushy
A good count of 152 Bewicks here this morning, the American Wigeon type hybrid was with 200 teal and a small group of Wigeon. One Redshank, a Little Stint and 1 Dunlin were on the top pond.
Zeiss Hide
Fantastic mixed flock crammed into an ice free spot, hundreds of Teal and Wigeon over 100 Pintail and a great mixture of waders, 120 Black Tailed Godwit, 14, Ruff, 3 Redshank, 780 Dunlin and a single Golden Plover. No sign yet of the Bittern but keep looking.
Kingfisher
No great numbers but a lovely gathering of Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler and a single Little Grebe close up in front of the hide. A Cetti Warbler calling nearby. The Bittern showed up mid morning from here as well.
South Lake.
A stunning flock of 1600 Lapwing waiting for the fields to thaw.
