Swan fall
Rushy Hide
A chorus of Bewick's Swan calls could be clearly heard from the car park at 0730, at last the clear night and favourable winds saw our first swan fall of the winter season. 21 Bewick's Swans (three juveniles) were present on the lake with a further six arriving later. The latter birds may have been noted downriver at the Severn bridges earlier in the morning. The single bird 'Indri' still remains on the Big Pen pond taking the day tally to 28. So far the Bewick's Swan research team have identified old timer Croupier (27 yrs old). With all the excitement of the swans, the ducks were ignored but there were plenty on the pond. A Chiffchaff was calling from bushes here mid morning.
Martin Smith Hide
Two Jack Snipe and a Common Snipe on the islands.
Tack Piece
An increase to 48 E. White-fronted Geese, 300Wigeon, 450 Teal, 12 Pintail, 10 Shoveler and 6 Redshank also on the scrape. 100s of Golden Plover and Lapwing were out on the field but also moved to the fields just N of here to feed with Dunlin, Curlew (51) and Ruff (15+). 100s of Fieldfare and Starling were also in the hedges and on the fields.
Willow Hide
The Water Rail was under the feeders.
Holden Tower
Two Peregrine, a male Kestrel, two Raven, c60 Linnet as well as distant Skylarks and Meadow Pipits.
South Lake
Great Crested and Little Grebe on deep lake with 8 Cormorant, 53 Pochard and 120 Tufted Duck. Black-tailed Godwits and Lapwing could be seen on the wader scrape with the gull flocks and 35+ Sh0veler.
