Good Friday
The Easter weekend begins with a glorious sunny and warm day, with the reserve filled with birdsong and birds getting their breeding season underway
The Easter weekend begins with a glorious sunny and warm day, with the reserve filled with birdsong and birds getting their breeding season underway. Across the reserve at least five species of warbler are singing, Lapwing and Oystercatcher are sitting on eggs, and our Avocet are not far behind.
Zeiss Hide
The Glossy Ibis was showing well again on the grass outside the Van de Bovenkamp Hide, with the sunshine really showing off the amazing colours of the plumage. Further out towards the seawall was a Great White Egret fishing in between the islands where our Crane pair are on their nest. Waders included 126 Black-tailed Godwit, 38 Avocet, two Redshank, with duck including 26 Teal 26 and 18 Shoveler. A Marsh Harrier drifted through early morning from the Dumbles, and two Little Grebe were also seen.
Stephen Kirk Hide
A pair of Little Ringed Plover were on the west end of the Tack Piece scrape this morning, with the male calling and displaying. Across the water were 16 Shoveler, a single Black-tailed Godwit, 28 Shelduck, a female Wigeon and 24 Teal, with a male Lapwing in full display to a watching female on the shoreline.
Estuary Tower
The Marsh Harrier drifted through to the south flushing the Avocet colony into defence, and a second Marsh Harrier was distantly to the north. A single Bar-tailed Godwit was with 17 Curlew on the riverbank, a male Wheatear was on the Middle Point cross fence, and a Peregrine was on the southern cross fence. The Dumbles scrape held 21 Avocet plus 19 Teal and two pairs of Shoveler.
Towards lunchtime two Red Kite were seen from the hide, thermalling with at least seven Buzzard.
Rushy Hide
A pair of Little Ringed Plover were around the nest this morning, freely entering the protective cage we have installed. Later in the morning an additional two males dropped in and began a short period of display, chasing and calling in competition with the nesting pair. Also on a nest, occasionally, are our Crane pair - Kia & Chocolo. The two seem to circle the Rushy from the nest out to the causeway and then to the back meadow before returning to the nest, but don't spend long incubating. Also on the Rushy were a pair of Oystercatcher, a single Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank, three pairs of Shoveler and 12 Avocet.
South Lake
A second-calendar year Mediterranean Gull was on the causeway rocks this morning, and the Black-headed Gull colony appears to be coming back to life with 85 birds present this morning. Other birds of note included 60 Avocet, a pair of Great Crested Grebe, five Cormorant and at least two Cattle Egret.
Kingfisher Hide
Both male and female Kingfishers have been seen this morning. There is also lots of birdsong around the hide, and along the South Finger Walkway including Sedg Warbler, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, Blackcap and Cetti's Warbler.
South Finger Reedbed
Four pairs of Tufted Duck were on the settling pond this morning and a Water Rail was calling.
Grounds
An Oystercatcher was on the Big Pen this morning, presumably the off-duty bird from the pair nesting on the Decoy Hide roof. A drake Pochard was with the captive Redheads on the Eider Pool exhibit.
Decoy Hide
Duck on the water included 11 Tufted Duck, a pair of Gadwall and 22 Shelduck.
