Merlin on the Dumbles
Image- Willow Warbler in the Blackthorn blossom from Estuary Tower- MJM.
Passage migrants continue to call in, although we have wintering birds that visit it's a great time of year to catch a passage Merlin on site. A female on the Dumbles this afternoon looked rather bedraggled in the squalls. The Meadow Pipits were nowhere to be seen, not surprising as they are a favoured prey.
Estuary Tower
A Great Crested Grebe floated upriver on the tide,3 White Wagtail and 30 Meadow Pipit feeding around the scrape, a Little Stint, 4 Dunlin and 4 Ringed Plover on the foreshore, 233 Russian White-fronted Geese + the Barnacle Goose on the Dumbles, 5 Lapwing displaying. Two Swallows and six Sand Martins early afternoon. At least two Willow Warblers were singing near the tower. Six Avocet on the scrape with a few Shoveler and Teal.
South Lake
Snow Goose (also seen in the road fields), 114 Avocet, 500+ Black-tailed Godwit. Keep an eye out for Mediterranean Gulls, two were seen the entrance road fields and likely to commute to here.
Tack Piece
At 0848am a Goshawk flew low over and then across Decoy Wood toward TNP, flushed all the feeding birds including the Spotted Redshank. The ever dwindling winter duck counts. 103 Wigeon had a couple of Pintail and 40 Shoveler for company. Three Little Egrets.
Russian White-fronted Geese age and brood assessment this morning.
Total count 233 188 Adults 45 first winters = 19.3% of the flock. x11 broods of 1, x8 broods of 2, single broods of 3, 4 + 5.
