Sightings + news concerning South Lake work schedule
Top New Piece from Zeiss Hide
28 Pintail, 5 Pochard, calling Cetti's Warbler, 360 Dunlin, 90 Golden Plover, 340 Wigeon, 220 Teal and 34 Snipe on the islands to the N end.
Bottom New Piece from Zeiss Hide
58 E. White-fronted Geese came in to drink after being flushed from the Four Score, they returned.
Kingfisher Hide
At least 51 E. White-fronted Geese, 11 Bewick's Swan and 2 Greylag on the Four Score field to the south. A drake Pochard and Gadwall in the channel.
Rushy Hide
At least 42 Bewick's Swan present at dawn. A calling Chiffchaff was in the Swan Pipe area (NE corner of Rushy Pen).
Pond zone/Duck Decoy
Two Lesser Redpolls in the birches briefly.
Martin Smith Hide
At least one Jack Snipe and one Common Snipe on the eastern island.
Tack Piece
Changing numbers of Teal, Wigeon, Lapwing (at least 800) and Golden Plover (at least 500) through the day as the flocks were kept very nervous by raptors. Four Redshank also present on the scrape edge.
Holden Tower
Two Reed Bunting in the scrub, 70 Linnets on the Dumbles with two Peregrine and up to 16 Cranes (includes two unringed adults and three 2018 reared juveniles).
A Little Grebe and 18 Pintail on the Long Ground Pool (look back to Grounds, over fence, pool just south of Duck Decoy Wood).
South Lake
Little Grebe on the deep lake.
Gull species included Herring, Lesser Black-backed, Common and Black-headed Gulls. At least 400 Lapwing and 185 Dunlin were present but only a single Ruff and 9 Black-tailed Godwits. 30 Shoveler and 120 Teal also on the waders scrape/duck marsh. Four Snipe from Hogarth Hide. The Great Crested Grebe remains with Cormorant, Grey Heron, Pochard and Tufted Duck all present on the deep lake.
*Please note that an Internal Drainage Board excavator will be working on the Eastern ditch from Monday 26th November. De-silting and lifting fallen trees onto the bank for logging. As well as logging up and coppicing, the reserve team plan to strim the deep lake islands, cut the causeways and banks to improve viewing from the hides, clean the hide windows, open up a section/sections of shore and beach (may prove attractive to GW Egrets and Kingfishers) and repair a section of fence*
Our Centre Facilites Maintenance team will also be inspecting the large picture window frames in the Discovery Hide as they are rotten and are in need of replacement. Repairs may be carried out in the coming weeks and could see localised disturbance to this area. We may need to close the hide or part of the hide for a time to carry out repairs.
We largely avoid such work during the breeding season. Now the reserve is mostly closed down to farming interests, alternative roosting/feeding options for wildfowl and waders are on the Tack Piece, and Top and Bottom New Piece as well as many other fields. They won't move far and will still be viewable from other hides.
Seasonal work is conducted in stages on South Lake every year usually from July to November/December, we try to keep views open for visitors and plan work carefully to minimise impact. Apologies if it affects your visit but management of the reserve is essential to ensure the site functions and continues to cater for maximum biodiversity.
We will be working as quickly as is safe and plan to complete the final stages of work asap. The lake will be prepared for the main wildfowl wintering period mid- December to late February and through to the June/July 2019 breeding season.
