Sightings for 29 December
Highlights for today with selected counts where possible.
Estuary Tower
Whooper Swan pair visted the Bottom New Piece but moved to the Stall House Ground viewed from Estuary Tower. 15 Little and 3 Cattle Egret roosted on the Long Ground. 389 Curlew on the tide, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard and Peregrine, Little Stint on the Dumbles scrape, 45 GBB Gull, 179 Barnacle Geese, Ross's Goose, Snow x Bar-headed Goose, all the birds flushed when two shotguns were fired on the far side of the Estuary, ducks began to return to the scrape later. On the Severn 980 Wigeon, 150 Pintail, 20 Shoveler and 9 floating Avocets on the Severn. The juvenile DB Brent Goose on the Dumbles foreshore + the Lesser White-fronted Goose with the Canada Goose flock.
Top New Piece
Nine Avocet early morning but 21 later, 639 Black-tailed Godwit, 1317 Teal, uncounted Pintail, Wigeon and Dunlin. Rushy- 81 Bewick's Swans.
South Lake
Seen in flight as they dropped in, the Russian White-fronted Geese are in the fields between South Lake and the canal, at least 100 birds.
Willow Hide
Water Rail under the feeders again today, another calling nearby.
Tack Piece
At least 20 Russian White-fronted Geese on the Tack Piece (c50 were on the Severn sands earlier and came inland to find grazing). 700 Golden Plover, 500 Lapwing, 160 Dunlin, 20 Curlew, Spotted Redshank, 60 Redshank and 26 Ruff.
Grounds
Siskins with the Goldfinches and a Grey Wagtail.
