Sightings and news to week ending 16 March
An ongoing record of what's been seen around the reserve.
Tuesday 11 March
Kingfisher Hide
To the south in the Four Score field there were 11+ Russian White-fronted Geese, the rest of the flock were hidden behind the hedge. On the Bottom new piece there were 2 male Lapwing. Lots of activity from the 2 Kingfishers, including the male bringing a fish to the female.
Zeiss Hide
On the Top New Piece there were 26 Dunlin, 2 Oystercatcher and 8 Lapwing and 90 Wigeon, 2 Little Stint were also spotted here in the afternoon, likely the same individuals from in front of Estuary Tower.
Robbie Garnett Hide
Early morning on the Tack Piece there was the adult Spoonbill, which was joined later by the 2cy Spoonbill, 8 Redshank, 25 Curlew, 600 Wigeon, 2 Whooper Swans and 2 Bewick's Swans, an Egyptian Goose was also around but it flew off to the Dumbles. Later in the afternoon there were 8 Cranes on the Tack Piece too.
Estuary Tower
There were 2 Little Stints on the centre island on the Dumbles scrape, 2 Avocets, 4 Pintail with the Wigeon too. Chiffchaff and Skylarks were both heard singing.
South Lake
3 Sand Martins were spotted in the morning, 66 Black-tailed Godwit (one had a flag ring) 19 Cattle Egret were there late morning sheltering from the wind as well as 2 Little Egret and 80 Avocet.
Monday 10 March
Rushy Hide/Peng Observatory
Two Spoonbill, Two Whooper and two Bewick's Swans (also using the Tack Piece), 2 drake Pochard, 40 Pintail, 3 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher.
Tack Piece
54 Shoveler, 635 Wigeon, 5 Pintail, 5m 2f Pochard, 3 Redshank + uncounted Teal.
Estuary Tower
14 Shoveler, 6 Pintail, 86 Wigeon, 2 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher on the Dumbles scrape.
Pill Box Pool
53 Wigeon and 6 Gadwall.
Long Ground Pool
Six Shoveler.
Top New Piece
217 Wigeon, 10 Lapwing.
Bottom New Piece
3 Lapwing.
South Lake
14 Cattle Egret on the deep lake islands mid-morning, 43 Black-tailed Godwit, 86 Avocet, 55 Gadwall, 86 Shoveler, 8m 4f Pochard, 2 Lapwing, calling Green Woodpecker + flocks of Teal, Tufted Duck and Cormorant. Pair of Cranes with a juvenile.
