Spoonbill double
28 August
Spoonbills
A newly arrived immature Spoonbill joined the longer staying adult bird, as seems to be the way these birds prefer to sleep on the Top New Piece and head out to the estuary to feed, the low tides channels and pools are favoured. This is our tenth individual of 2024.
Tack Piece
Five Green Sandpiper and 14 Redshank plus Teal and Shoveler.
Rushy Hide
Two Greenshank, three Spotted Redshank with the Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit flock, two Garganey among the sleeping ducks, both were on the pool at Martin Smith Hide this and yesterday morning but fly over the fence to rest during the day.
South Lake Discovery Hide
83 Black-tailed godwit, 15 Avocet, 14 Ruff, 1 Little-ringed Plover, c150 Lapwing and 1 Great Crested Grebe.
Middle Point
269 Ringed Plover, 11 Sanderling, 97 Dunlin on the Severn mud, a Greenshank, 8 Little and a Great Egret, a Peregrine 'bumped' 2 Golden Plover from the Dumbles and 2 Marsh Harrier were seen along the foreshore, a Reed Warbler was calling.
A flock of 'Commic' Tern flew downriver this afternoon, probably Arctic rather than Common but too far to be sure. Two Common Sandpiper also off the point.
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27 August
Middle Point
Ten 'Commic' Terns rested on the sands for some time late morning.
Decoy
Spotted Flycatcher.
South Lake
At least 19 Ruff (three juveniles)
Duck Decoy
Two Wigeon this morning, also eclipse drake Mandarin at latter site.
Morning Wild Safari
Three Whinchat, 6 Crane, 5 Grass Snakes, 4 Grey Heron, 8 Little Egret, 2 Kestrel, leucistic Marsh Harrier, 3 Buzzard, Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers.
Afternoon Wild Safari highlights
The leucistic juvenile Marsh Harrier + female, juvenile Hobby, 2 Kestrel, 2 Buzzard, 5 Cranes, 3 Whinchats, Stonechat, Wheatear, 6 Grass Snakes.
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26 August
Tack Piece/Summer Walkway
A Corn Bunting was in the hedge but flew off inland when the cattle were moved from the Dumbles.
Top New Piece
Bittern, Spoonbill, 3 Crane, large flock of Canada and Greylag Geese, 1 Avocet, 50+ Teal.
South Finger reedbed viewing screen
Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff and Treecreeper
