Our Reserve Team have been working hard over the last few weeks on the Rushy Pen and along the Holden Walkway hides, and the ducks are really appreciating our efforts. The Martin Smith Hide is providing great views of Pintail, Wigeon, Teal and this morning a Water Rail and 8 Snipe put in a show.
Fewer birds around this morning with only 637 Teal on the Top New Piece along with 4 Redshank and 4 Ruff, 2 Dunlin, 166 Lapwing and 2 Snipe, the latter being flushed by a male Sparrowhawk hunting along the reed edge.
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Five White-fronted Geese are now on The Dumbles with 279 Greylag Geese and 22 Barnacle Geese. Out on the river 73 Shelduck and 4 Curlew were visible. Two Skylark flew over the as did 15 Golden Plover.
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A quieter morning with 76 Black-tailed Godwit, 20 Redshank, 30 Lapwing the only waders present. Ducks included a gradual increase in Pochard with 10 birds present amongst the Tufted Duck and Shoveler.