Quality not quantity
It was rather quiet along the Tack Piece and out on the Dumbles this morning, but several thousand birds by contrast along the South Finger across the Top and Bottom New Piece fields.
Zeiss Hide
Star birds here this morning were a Bittern, seen flying towards the Van de Bovenkamp Hide and an adult male Goshawk. There is also a great mix of waders, if a little short on the numbers we'd usually expect. Around 500 Lapwing were on the scrape with 7 Ruff, 300 Dunlin, 8 Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Curlew, 6 Snipe and 20 Golden Plover. The flock regularly take to the wing to avoid the wintering Peregrines giving a great spectacle. Another two flocks of Golden Plover totalling around 200 birds were seen high over the reserve this morning, so may have dropped in to join the rest of the waders.
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South Lake Hides
The first-winter drake Goldeneye was present again this morning, a pretty rare bird for the reserve. Also present was the first Oystercatcher of the year along with 500 Lapwing, 11 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Ruff. A couple of Mandarin were amongst the ducks which also included 2 Wigeon. The Great Crested Grebe was again on the deep lake.
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Holden Tower
Two White-fronted Geese were on the Dumbles this morning around the scrape, but the rest of the flock remains in the fields to the north of the Tack Piece with 141 birds counted yesterday. Other than the flock of Barnacle Geese out towards the river, the Dumbles was rather quiet this morning. Three Cranes were on the Tack Piece and a nice selection of duck were on the scrape including Gadwall, Pintail, Wigeon, Teal and Shoveler. As the day progresses look for flocks of waders arriving in the field. A handful of Lapwing were present this morning along with 2 Redshank.
