On the move
After yesterday's foggy start, there is evidence of a bit of movement this morning with birds moving overhead and numbers of other species building on the ponds and scrapes
After yesterday's foggy start may have delayed birds moving, today there is evidence of a bit of movement with birds moving overhead and numbers of other species building on the ponds and scrapes.
Middle Point
At least 24 Grey Plover were with a flock of 100 Golden Plover on the mudflats this morning, along with ten Ringed Plover, 11 Dunlin, four Redshank and a Bar-tailed Godwit. Nine Wigeon and seven Pintail were on the river channel, and five Little Egret were noted. At high tide the riverbank roost included around 550 Dunlin, 35 Grey Plover, around 20 Ringed Plover, 136 Curlew and two Bar-tailed Godwit. A small flock of 30 Golden Plover flew north, and 20 Cranes were on the Dumbles.
Shepherd's Hut
Small groups of Skylark have been coming in over the river and there are lots of Meadow Pipit around too. At least three Stonechat are in the reedbed below the seawall.
Canoe Safari
A flock of nine Siskin flew over heading south mid-morning.
Tack Piece (view from Robbie Garnett and Stephen Kirk Hides)
Three Spotted Redshank dropped in mid-morning as the tide was rising out on the estuary. Also counted this morning were 26 Wigeon and 124 Teal, with a single Ruff and a few Lapwing.
Zeiss Hide
During the morning the Golden Plover flock grew to 287 birds, and a Spotted Redshank arrived as the tide pushes them off the river. Joining the high tide roost were a good number of Dunlin along with ten Curlew Sandpiper and two Little Stint. Counts earlier this morning included 298 Teal, eight Pintail, 16 Wigeon, three Avocet, 22 Ruff, five Snipe, a Little Grebe, and a Marsh Harrier flew through.
South Lake
At least nine Knot dropped in to join the small Black-tailed Godwit flock of 66 birds. Also of note were 73 Shoveler, 33 Tufted Duck, three drake Pochard, two Pintail. A Curlew Sandpiper dropped in with a few Dunlin as the tide pushed them off the estuary.
Birds on the Long Ground Pool included four Gadwall, two Black-tailed Godwit, eight Shoveler, two Cormorant, a Grey Heron, 20 Teal and two Shelduck. A Cetti's Warbler was singing from the copse below the hide. In the skies, small groups of Curlew are heading inland to feed and some appear to be landing in the roadside fields between the Visitor Centre and canal bridge. Out on the Dumbles were the Snow Goose and Ross's Goose with the Greylag and Barnacle Goose flocks respectively. A Peregrine was sat on one of the fence posts near the riverbank, and a few Curlew are feeding here in long grass too. Earlier this morning two Great Egret flew south down the river.
Two drake Wigeon and a Pintail were noted this morning, along with 82 Teal, an Avocet, a Snipe, a Grey Heron, a single Black-tailed Godwit and 68 Mallard.
