Thrush invasion
Redwings and other thrush species arrive in numbers
The day began with fog and of course, no wind at all, it soon cleared to reveal 1000s of Redwings and Fieldfares stripping berries form the hedgerows. All day long flocks of these birds have been whizzing about the reserve. It was noticeable that wintering Song Thrushes and Blackbirds had also arrived albeit in smaller numbers than the aforementioned species.
Other highlights included the following.
Kingfisher Hide/Bottom New Piece
27 White-fronted Geese and 8 Ruff on the field, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal and Little Grebe feeding on the cleared channel.
Top New Piece
A female Merlin was bird of the day here, other species noted included Lapwing, Little Grebe, Wigeon, Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal, Canada and Greylag Geese, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwits and Mute Swan. Treecreeper in the Spinney Wood.
Rushy Hide/Peng Observatory
At least one Avocet, 4 Snipe and a dozen Lapwing, 31 Pintail, 16 male and 6 female Pochard among the Tufted Ducks and Shelducks also of note.
Tack Piece
Three Spotted Redshank (morning only), 6 Redshank, 400 Lapwing and 4 Snipe on the field and scrape, some Golden Plover dropped in for short time, also Teal, Shoveler and Wigeon on the scrape.
Estuary Tower
Eight Cranes on the Dumbles with Canada (including a white leucistic bird), flocks of Barnacle and Greylag Geese, a single Snow and Ross's Goose and the two Barnacle x Canada hybrids. Two Crane, 3 Grey Plover and a few Curlew on the Severn with 100s of Golden Plover later in the day.
South Lake
146 Tufted Duck, 20 male and one female Pochard, flocks of Lapwing, Teal and Shoveler, Cormorants, Black-headed Gulls with a Mediterranean Gull plus a few Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff in the willows outside Discovery Hide.
