Saturday's sightings
A family group of five Spoonbills (2 adults and 3 juveniles) were seen this morning, first seen in flight over the Rushy heading towards the river before circling back and landing on the back of the lower pond. The family then flew off and dropped on the South Lake where they still were late morning.
South Lake Hides
The family of five Spoonbill spent a little time feeding this morning, had a brief fly around the perimeter of the area before landing and going to roost. Also on the scrape were 94 Lapwing, 36 Shoveler, 154 Teal, 2 Ruff, 36 Redshank, 3 Common Gull, 4 Snipe, 97 Black-tailed Godwit and 5 Avocet. The three Spotted Redshank dropped in mid-morning after leaving the Top New Piece. A Kingfisher was heard along the back rhine and a drake Pintail and juvenile Great Crested Grebe were on the deep lake.
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Zeiss Hide
Out on the Top New Piece were 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 676 Teal, 27 Ruff (including 3 juveniles), 2 Shoveler, 55 Wigeon and 72 Lapwing. Three Spotted Redshank were present first thing but were seen to drop in on the South Lake later. A Cetti's Warbler was calling from the reedbed near the seawall.
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Kingfisher Hide
A single Teal and Moorhen were the only birds on the pond, but out in the Bottom New Piece field were 120 Lapwing and 9 Ruff. A reasonable flock of 100+ Starling were also present. A Cetti's Warbler was also heard in the reedbed near the hide.
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Rushy Hide
A stunning male Grey Wagtail was on the island this morning near the Scott House. The lower pond held 57 Teal, 6 Lapwing, 6 Shoveler and Grey Heron. The Spoonbill family made a brief appearance here too.
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Holden Tower
A Peregrine was sat out on a fence post watching the tide drop and to see what breakfast options were on offer today. A flock of 21 terns were sat on the mud towards Purton, but too far away in poor light to put down to Common or Arctic. Also on the river were several Curlew, a group of small waders (probably Dunlin), 3 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron and 67 Shelduck. Two Whinchat and 2 Wheatear were seen at Mid Point. Several Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and a Whitethroat were seen in the copse in front of the hide.
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Martin Smith Hide
The Garganey was again showing well on the pool in front of the hide along with a few Teal, Gadwall and Mallard.
