South Lake waders
This morning's hides round was well before High Tide, but all the wader action was happening at South Lake with 7 species present including 2 Curlew Sandpiper. The cool and cloudy start to the day has kept warbler action low so far but lots of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler can be seen and heard around the reserve, a few are even trying to sing as they get in some practice before next year.
** Update **: Two Manx Shearwater were seen flying up the river before settling and gradually drifting back down river around 11:30am. Two more birds were also seen from Sharpness Coastguard down river at the same time so several birds way well have been present.
** Update **: The Great White Egret is still present this afternoon on Hundred Acre, showing well on the Land Rover Safari.
South Lake Hide
Two Curlew Sandpipers were the highlights with other waders including 134 Black-tailed Godwit, single Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper, 26 Redshank, 242 Lapwing and 6 Ruff. Also present were 2 Little Egret, and adult Great Crested Grebe feeding a well grown juvenile and a Willow Warbler.
** Update **: An eclipse Garganey has been seen on South Lake so check the Teal carefully! Two Cranes were also present with the colour rings telling us they are called Bart and Ruby, one of the pairs here at Slimbridge.
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Zeiss Hide
Three Pintail may well be new arrivals as could be a single Wigeon. In a few weeks the area will look very different with large flocks of Wigeon out on the field. Two Buzzards were sat on the fence between the fields. Before the High Tide the only waders were a single Snipe, 3 Redshank and 4 Ruff all busy feeding along the water's edge.
** Update ** : High Tide pushed 124 Shelduck, 4 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Avocet, 8 Ringed Plover, over 100 Dunlin and a Little Stint on to the Top New Piece pool and Wigeon increased to 6 birds. Three Cranes dropped in briefly to the Top New Piece for continuing on. A single Curlew could be seen on The Dumbles and around 40 Barnacle Geese were seen. A Cetti's Warbler was heard in the reedbed.
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Holden Walkway Hides
Several Chiffchaff were busy foraging along the walkway and the hedgerow in front of the Knott Hide. Two Cranes flew in from Hundred Acre and landed on the Tack Piece, as viewed from Robbie Garnett Hide. The Kingfisher was showing well from the Martin Smith Hide and later was seen checking out the raised ponds in the Pond Zone nearby. A small group of Swallows were feeding low over the Tack Piece as the temperatures and breeze keep insects low to the ground. Up to four Wheatear were out on The Dumbles
** Update **: Four Golden Plover were seen this morning, probably the first of the season. A single Greenshank was seen along with 7 Cranes, a Turnstone, 5+ Yellow Wagtails, a single Pintail and a Yellow-legged Gull.
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South Finger Hides
A Little Egret was from the Kingfisher Hide out on the Bottom New Piece. Also from Kingfisher Hide were a Kingfisher, 2 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck and a Little Grebe.
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Rushy Pen
A Little Grebe was showing well from the hide this morning along with 9 Shoveler, 28 Teal and a single Wigeon. A small group of 10 Lapwing dropped in and a Grey Heron was hunting by the Swan Pipe.
