Increasing Bitterns and a Lapland Bunting
A rewarding morning was spent with a Birdwatch Morning group from 0800-1030am, we had a really nice selection of birds and a brief Otter!. After a break I spent until lunch doing a bit of 'Guide in the Hide -ing' in the Zeiss Hide, the birding was still brilliant, lots to see. On arrival at the Zeiss Hide some visiting birders had seen three Bitterns along the fleet between here and Kingfisher Hide repeating last weekends total, what was likely to be another walked the island along the West side of the flood, this bird probably also accounted for the individual seen from the Holden Tower later as it walked outside the perimeter fence.
At around 3pm I had quick look through the Cranes and reading rings on the Tack Piece and visited the Holden Tower, this produced a flock of c60 Linnet, a few Skylark and a small flock of Meadow Pipit. Scanning the pipits from the Holden Tower revealed a skulking Lapland Bunting running about from tussock to tussock feeding on saltmarsh plants seeds. The flock moved when Rooks appeared nearby and we were unable to relocate to 3.30pm when I had to leave. It may well be the be same bird seen last year, if so it has overwintered and is likely to be seen again if searched for.
Martin (MJM)
Highlights today included...
Kingfisher Hide
A pair of Bullfinch, 2 Water Rail, 2 Bittern, 2 Little Grebe, 600 Golden Plover, 800 Dunlin, 3 Ruff, 5 Curlew, Redshank, Fieldfares, Song Thrush, Blackbirds and an OTTER, seen at approx. 1020 and 1130hrs.
Male Bullfinch
Van de Bovenkamp Hide
Bittern seen late morning
Zeiss Hide
Flocks of 1000 Wigeon (mobile, also feeding in next field), 500 Teal and 288 Pintail. A minimum count of 155 Snipe made, the birds feeding in the cut rush areas. Two Black-tailed Godwit and the three Ruff were also seen.
South Lake
The Great Crested Grebe, 8 Cormorants, 500 Lapwing, male Mandarin, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Buzzards and an Oystercatcher.
Rushy Pen
147 Bewick's Swans at the roost, Little Stint and Dunlin on the islands.
Tack Piece
60 Linnet, 3 Skylark, 450 Lapwing, 150 Wigeon and 65 Pintail. 8 Cranes.
Dumbles- Holden Tower
Lapland Bunting feeding with Meadow Pipits in tussocks behind Dumbles scrape. A scarce bird in Gloucestershire. Also 180+ Barnacle Geese.
