Cranes are busy
Its been a busy day on the reserve with our Cranes, and a few developments amongst our pairs. Oakie who was frequently seen with Evie and Cotton seems to be re-pairing with Sherbert and Kia, leaving Evie on her own in the Tack Piece and Cotton missing in action. Slim (our chick from 2015) has returned and another on-off returner is also back, Rosa. Monty and Sedge are still seen regularly and Bart and Ruby have reappeared after a few weeks away. Its another busy Spring for the sopa opera of the Cranes.
South Lake Hides
The Black-tailed Godwit flock is now 373 birds strong, with two more birds on the Top New Piece first thing bringing us to 375 birds for the reserve at present. The two adult summer Mediterranean Gulls were on the island in the deep lake this morning, displaying and copulating again. Also on the deep lake were the Great Crested Grebe pair. The scrape held 19 Avocet with another 28 birds over the causeway on the duck marsh in front of the Hogarth Hide. Two Dunlin dropped in around lunchtime and a pair of Oystercatcher were at each end of the scrape. Two Sand Martin and a Swallow passed through first thing.
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Holden Tower
Six Cranes were on the Dumbles this morning along with 63 White-fronted Geese and the Red-breasted Goose amongst the Barnacle flock. A Peregrine was seen beyond the cross fence before being flushed by a dog walker out near the river. Thirteen Avocet were on the Dumbles scrape before moving to the Rushy and replaced by a pair of Oystercatcher. A single Redshank and Ruff were on the pool near the tower from were a Little Grebe was calling. A Water Rail was feeding along the floodline near the copse.
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Robbie Garnett Hide
A rather quiet Tack Piece this morning as duck numbers continue to drop leaving 366 Wigeon with a few Teal and Shoveler. A flock of 22 Redshank were roosting on the shoreline opposite the hide. A Crane was foraging near the hedgerow and a Stock Dove flew over the Ox Piece. A single Curlew was near the Holden Tower.
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Zeiss Hide
The flock of Wigeon has dropped to 164 birds, mainly back in front of the Van de Bovenkamp Hide. A pair of Great Crested Grebe were here too. A Cetti's Warbler was singing from the reedbed in front of the Zeiss Hide were two male Reed Bunting were also seen, whilst out on the scrape were 10 Avocet, three Ruff and two Black-tailed Godwit. Three Cranes were on the Bottom New Piece.
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