High tides and green grass should be a big hit this weekend
Very high tides are forecast for this weekend, the fields are very green, a good sward with good grazing on offer.
If you are visiting or thinking about it this weekend we encourage you to see what comes in on the tides. Come and connect with the waders and wildfowl of the Severn Estuary.
Forecasted high tides for Sharpness are as follows, remember to add 20 minutes for WWT Slimbridge.
Access for WWT members from 08:15 via the Members Gate, please have your membership card available. Non-members via admissions from 09:30am
Details to plan your visit here https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/slimbridge/...
Friday 29 September
08:41 - 9.9m (evening 21:00 - 10.6)
Saturday 30 September
09:22 - 10.4 (evening 21:42 - 10.8)
Sunday 1 October
10:02 - 10.4 (evening 22:20 - 10.6)
We usually have to shave off 0.2 from each prediction but with low pressure around this week we may see it push up higher, these tides should flood the Dumbles.
All scrapes have muddy shorelines, the Top New Piece water levels have been prepared for waders in particular, read on for what birds came in today.
Top New Piece from Zeiss Hide
Water levels are spot on - juvenile Wood Sandpiper, 4 Spoonbill, 4 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 5 juvenile Little Stint, 2 Sanderling, 6 Spotted Redshank, 31 Ruff (all sizes/both sexes adults and juveniles), 218 Dunlin, 105 Ringed Plover, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 425 Teal on the flood. A few Wigeon, flocks of Shoveler and Gadwall, Mute Swan and Coot as well as Little Grebe on the fleet.
South Lake (Discovery and Hogarth Hides)
A Bar-tailed Godwit was ‘hiding’ amongst 70+ Black-tailed Godwits on South Lake (200+ earlier today), a good example of waders coming in form the Severn, also adult Mediterranean Gull and seven Stock Doves. A few Redshank among the Teal and Lapwing.
Middle Point
On the rising tide- three juvenile Bar-tailed Godwit with the Curlew flock.
Note that the seaward side will flood, it is still muddy from the last tides, please stay on the bank/seawall and view from the Shepherds Hut.
Tack Piece (Robbie Garnett and Stephen Kirk Hides)
Lapwing, Teal, Shoveler and a few Wigeon.
Rushy Hide/Peng Observatory
Two Snipe,30+ Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Redshank, a juvenile Ruff briefly, c50 Teal.
Kingfsher Hide
The Kingfishers have fledged their last (very late season) brood and are very mobile, numerous sightings throughout the day anywhere on site, got to get lucky!
Did you spot the title...reference to a compilation record by the Rolling Stones in the 1960's :)
