Collared Pratincole remains
The Collared Pratincole was still on the South Lake today, and continues to show very well at times from the Discovery Hide
The Collared Pratincole was still on the South Lake today, and continues to show very well at times from the Discovery Hide.
The bird is regularly making feeding trips, catching wasps and hornets on the wing before settling to eat them. The photo above is from our volunteer Roy, and one of many shared with us on Twitter. See his tweet here.
Migration continues overhead with winter thrushes passing through. Redwing have been dribbling through all day, and this morning a flock of 28 Fieldfare flew over the car park. A few Curlew are also flying over heading inland to feed.
Zeiss Hide
Two Little Stint and 254 Dunlin briefly dropped in on the Top New Piece over high tide, before heading back to river. Also of note were a Kestrel, a Great Egret, 15 Golden Plover, 19 Snipe and 12 Shoveler.
Estuary Tower
A Great Crested Grebe was on the Long Ground Pool - an unusual record here and for the time of year on the reserve as a whole. Also here were ten Shoveler and eight Pintail. The high tide roost on the riverbank was again very good and again very busy with the Dunlin flock almost continually on the wing, settling very briefly and when alighting taking other species with them. Counts included 114 Curlew, at least 50 Grey Plover, a Bar-tailed Godwit, seven Redshank, around 500 Dunlin, two Grey Heron, nine Little Egret, 19 Crane, 41 Great Black-backed Gull and two Raven.
The White-fronted Goose flock were on the Dumbles this morning, made up of 22 adults and seven juveniles.
South Lake
In addition to the Collared Pratincole were nine Pochard, 203 Black-tailed Godwit, seven Cormorant, a Grey Heron and Little Egret, 22 Shelduck, a Snipe, 26 Tufted Duck and 156 Shoveler.
Rushy Hide
A Ruff was on the lower pond this morning with two Avocet and a Black-tailed Godwit. Duck included two Pintail, 38 Shelduck, four Gadwall, five Shoveler, 15 Tufted Duck, 61 Teal and 142 Mallard. Also of note were two Grey Heron on the back meadow, a Snipe on the upper pond islands and a Grey Wagtail on the concrete overflow channel.
Robbie Garnett Hide
Four Spotted Redshank and ten Redshank were amongst the duck this morning on the Tack Piece.
Martin Smith Hide
The Reserve Team have been working here today to open up views around the channels and islands. Whilst working here a Jack Snipe was found.
