Today's sightings
Rushy Hide & Peng Observatory
We're down to 23 Bewick's Swans this morning, with just 11 on the Rushy for the feed. The rest of the flock had already made their way out on to the Dumbles. Also present were a pair of Oystercatcher, a single Redshank, 114 Pintail, 86 Shelduck and 5 Wigeon. Look out for our American Wigeon look-a-like. We think he is a Chiloe x Eurasian Wigeon hybrid, and not an American as has been reported on some bird news services recently.
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Holden Tower
A total of 8 Cranes from the Great Crane Project were on the Tack Piece along with the flock of 153 White-fronted Geese. The Tack Piece srape held 10 Shoveler, around 100 Wigeon and 5 Redshank. Out on the Dumbles were 12 Bewick's Swans, a Peregrine and 217 Barnacle Geese.
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South Lake Hides
A Knot had joined the Spotted Redshank with the Redshank flock and was best viewed from the Hogarth Hide. The Black-tailed Godwit flock numbered 226, two pairs of Oystercatcher were present and 21 Pochard were on the deep lake.
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Kingfisher Hide
A flock of 157 Golden Plover dropped in mid-morning and settled on the Bottom New Piece field. Other waders here taking advantage of the wetter ground included 8 Ruff, 300+ Dunlin and several Lapwing. On the pond were the usual pair of Little Grebe whilst a Chiffchaff was feeding in the scrub behind the Kingfisher bank.
