Mass Swift arrival and first Lapwing chicks of the year
Swifts were much in evidence today
Swifts
By early afternoon we had at least 160 Swifts feeding over the reserve, the majority were over the wet fields and marshes looking North East from the Estuary Tower but they were also screaming around the tower, visitor centre, Duck Decoy and South Lake.
Tack Piece
With another wet day flocks of Swallows (40) and Sand (6) and House Martins (20) gathered to feed on emerging insects over the water, a few duck remain, ust the one drake Wigeon, a few pairs of Tufted Duck and Shelduck and the Greylag Goose families. A flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plover dropped in on the central flood over high tide, at least one Sanderling was present.
Estuary Tower
Over high tide there were 2 Grey Plover (one in breeding plumage), 2 Turnstone, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Curlew, 5 Sanderling, 260 Dunlin, 97 Ringed Plover and 2 Oystercatcher on the Dumbles or along the shore, a large gathering of mainly immature gulls (250) contained the five expected species- Common, Black-headed, Lesser and Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls.
On the Dumbles our first Lapwing chicks of the year were spotted, four newly hatched chicks on the far distant 'saltpan' along with a number of adults and a pair or two of Redshank. Ten Avocet, a pair of Oystercatcher and four pairs of Black-headed Gull were on the scrape.
South Lake
Five second calendar year Mediterranean Gulls on the North causeway (with the 3cy and two displaying adults there were at least 8 on site today),51 Black-tailed Godwit, Crane, 50+ Avocet and a Great Crested Grebe. A Cuckoo sang here at times today, it favoured the oaks.
Knott Hide
Showy Sedge and Reed Warblers and Reed Buntings, singing Cetti's Warbler, pair of Little Grebe with three chicks.
Rushy Hide
Little-ringed Plover early morning, 25 Avocet (9 nests), 2 drake Teal, 2 drake Shoveler.
Kingfisher Hide
Cuckoo singing and showing in the line of willows at times, the Kingfisher pair were again busy feeding young, Greenfinch, Reed and Sedge Warblers all singing + Reed Bunting and Lapwing and Redshank defending against a Marsh Harrier early morning.
Duck Decoy
Female Red-crested Pochard and drake Mandarin on the pool, singing Sedge and Reed Warblers.
Car Park
A drake Goldeneye flew over heading for the grounds plus a Lesser Whitethroat was still singing at the East end.
