Sightings and highlights 5-9 September 2024
A dynamic period of weather during last week and over the weekend, heavy downpours, thunder and lightning, at times almost zero visibility in the mist. The extremely heavy rainfall has flooded up the scrapes, we've managed to keep mud exposed at the Top New Piece but all other areas are higher than they would be at this time of year, it will drain down over the next week as long as we don't see further heavy rain. The birding has been excellent, a good range of species logged, read on for the highlights.
Monday 9 September (to 09:30am)
Rushy Hide
Two (three rest here daily) Spotted Redshank, Greenshank 12 Redshank, 2 Snipe, Garganey (three by mid-morning), 4 Shoveler, 74 Lapwing, 9 Black-tailed Godwit.
Martin Smith Hide
Garganey
Tack Piece
Two Lapwing, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 13 Wigeon, 3 Green Sandpiper, 250 Teal and 9 Shoveler.
Pill Box Pool as viewed from Knott Hide and Estuary Tower
Green Sandpiper and 12 Gadwall.
Top New Piece
Three Pintail, a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper and 25 Ruff but all were flushed when 2 Raven mobbed two Marsh Harriers, this included the leucistic juvenile. A Great Egret, Grey Heron, Green Sandpiper, 200+ Teal and 4 Shoveler remained.
South Lake
90 Lapwing, 17 Avocet, 81 Shoveler, 16 Ruff, 6 Pochard, 174 Black-tailed Godwit (11 juveniles) + Teal, Greylags, Tufted Ducks, 4 Cormorants.
Kingfisher Hide/South Finger
30 Gadwall, 15 Wigeon and 6 Shoveler feeding on the pondweed (in the channel that was desilted two years ago). Goldcrest and Chiffchaffs along the pathway.
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Sunday 8 September
Rushy Hide
Greenshank, two Garganey and 3 Spotted Redshank.
Middle Point
Two Whinchats, Stonechat, two Wheatear, 5 Reed Bunting + 2 Yellow Wagtail over South. On the Severn Spoonbill, 13 Grey Heron, 27 Little Egret, 2 juvenile Ruff, 2 Black-tailed Godwit among the Curlew + flock of 134 Ringed Plover and 90 Dunlin with two Little Stints and a Curlew Sandpiper over high tide.
Top New Piece
The leucistic Marsh Harrier hunting, 15 Snipe, 13 Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Great Egret, 200 Teal, 3 Redshank, Grey Heron.
Dumbles cross fence
Three Marsh Harrier drying/preening early morning.
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Saturday 7 September
Middle Point
Eight Common Scoter over the tide plus 40 Curlew, 4 Redshank, 3 Reed Bunting, 4 Wheatear, 6 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, two Bar-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover flock, singles of Golden Plover, Spotted Redshank and Greenshank.
Top New Piece from Zeiss Hide
Teal 300+, Curlew Sandpiper 2, Ruff 3, Shoveler 8, Gadwall 5, Cetti’s Warbler singing. A Cattle Egret joined the Great and Little Egrets. a Swan Goose type was with the Greylag Geese.
Dumbles
The over-summering Pink-footed Goose again.
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Friday 6 September
Top New Piece from Zeiss Hide
Two Little Stint and two Curlew Sandpipers.
Middle Point
Three Black Tern (SW at 09:35), 2 Whimbrel, 80 Curlew, Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Golden Plover, Ruff. Ringed Plover flock and 10+ Dunlin and a Sanderling. 13 Little Egret, a Spoonbill, Grey Heron, 55 Shelduck. Marsh Harrier, 2 Reed Bunting and 6 Wigeon. A Great Skua flew past. A Harbour Seal also.
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Thursday 5 September
Top New Piece
Two Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint.
Middle Point
Two Black Tern lazily flew/fed downriver at lunchtime plus 18 Pintail on the mud.
