Dumbles bonanza
Dumbles bonanza
Estuary Tower
Some stunning bird watching here all week. The high tides at the start of the week left the Dumbles flooded and a real magnate for birds. A highlight for me has been the steadily building flock of Wigeon (780 today) which have been using the scrape in front of the tower oblivious to observers on the Tower terrace. A new set of vinyl screening is being trialed to minimize disturbance especially to the Wigeon close to the tower on the Pill Box pool and in the Tack Piece whilst still allowing viewing for everyone. Lapwing seem scattered across the whole area with Dunlin and Ruff among them. The Black Tailed Godwits have been feeding here on occasions and are joined by over 100 Curlew at high tide. Two Peregrine have been around all week, one occasionally 2 Marsh Harriers have been regular visitors and the whole Crane Flock (15) have got into the habit of spending the afternoon here after the morning on nearby stubble. Remember to scan the Long Ground pool out to the left of the tower. 167 Teal, 14 Gadwall, 12 Pintail, 11 Shoveler and 26 Tufted Ducks were crammed into here this morning with lots of Greylag as well
Rushy
The Rushy is now being fed and numbers of duck have been responding well. Up to 19 Pintail and 18 Pochard are using the area. Redshank are roosting here from mid morning and have been joined by a handful of Ruff and a Spotted Redshank one day and a Greenshank another. Watch out for the 2 Grey Wagtails which are wintering and the well concealed Snipe along the left hand shore.
South lake
Still the spot to get the best views of waders, the Black Tailed Godwit flock is somewhat reduced at the moment but numbering around 40 are moving between here and the Zeiss Hide along with Redshank and Ruff. Lapwing and Teal everywhere and up to 12 Snipe along the back edges of the scrape. Pochard and Tufted Duck are moving between here and the Rushy,
Zeiss Hide and South Finger
Packed with over 700 Teal but the Wigeon have forsaken here for the flooded Dumbles. A scattering of all the waders on site especially the Lapwing and at least 200 Golden Plover. This is the best spot to search for Spotted Redshank, a Bittern has shown several times over the past week and Water Rail are being seen and heard more frequently. Despite essential maintenance work on the Kingfisher bank and pool the star birds were 2 Bearded Tit on the 20th that were heard flying over during a lull in the chainsaw and excavator activity. A lone Cattle Egret has been associating with the Long Horn Cattle wherever they may be.
Migration
Siskins and the odd Redpoll are still flying over, no massive Thrush migration this week but Redwing and Fieldfare are there if you search the thorn thickets and the resident Mistle Thrush is often seen from the Estuary Tower. small numbers of Skylark, Chaffinches and Meadow pipits have been moving most days.
