Last day of 2017
The birding spectacle is brilliant due to the rainfall/snow melt and mild conditions. The shallow depressions on the Dumbles have finally filled with water and many of the fields now have some surface flooding. The Tack Piece and Top New Piece were very busy with 1000s of birds. It promises to get even better with high tides during the coming week coupled with breezy days.
Highlights from today as follows
Holden Tower
The Mistle Thrush was defending 'it's' mistletoe berries near the pillbox. Some of the Bewick's Swans headed out to the pools to feed today. The Red-breasted Goose was still with the Barnacle Goose flock. Two Cranes were in the Goose House Ground with the E. White-fronted Geese early morning but the latter flock moved into the Tack Piece. A flock of 1100+ Wigeon were seen wheeling over the estuary mid-morning.
Tack Piece
Large numbers of duck at dawn, many Pintail, Teal and Wigeon but most moved off. The wader numbers built during the day with up to 50 Black-tailed Godwit, 158 Curlew, 3 Little Stint, 300 Golden Plover, 1500 Lapwing, 68 Redshank, 8+ Ruff and 300 Dunlin. A flock of c.5000 Starling gathered prior to roosting and contained a leucistic individual.
Willow Hide
Water Rail early morning.
Canoe Trail
Another Water Rail was showing well on the silt slubbings between the ditch and canoe trail
Rushy Hide and Peng Observatory
Tufted Ducks, Shelduck and Pochard present but most of the dabblers were on the flooded fields, 12 Snipe, 20+ Redshank and 5 Ruff were seen during the day. At least 92 Bewick's Swans are present with the majority roosting here.
South Lake
Two Avocet, an Oystercatcher, Great Crested Grebe and 9 Cormorants on the deep lake section, 110 Shoveler on the causeway with 120 Teal, 500 Lapwing, 30 Dunlin and 10 Snipe (latter best from the Hogarth Hide).
Zeiss Hide
30 Snipe, 100s Dunlin, 100s Golden Plover, 1000+ Lapwing, 2114 Teal, 6+ Ruff and 20 Shoveler.
General
Small flocks of Redwings were seen moving about the reserve, a few Goldcrest seen from the paths and trails. A single Greenfinch was noted near In Focus.
