Today's sightings
It has been a bizarre week over the high tides - they've been over 9m for the last few days but birds have been reluctant to drop in to the Top New Piece at the Zeiss Hide. A great variety of species have been seen, but lower numbers and shorter periods of time. There has been a Merlin around, so perhaps the waders are on edge and easily spooked.
South Lake Hides
High tide pushed some waders on to the wader scrape from the Discovery Hide including 19 Dunlin and 4 Knot, the latter of which were hunkered down amongst the Black-tailed Godwit flock which itself numbered 163 birds. Also present were 12 Redshank, 4 Avocet, 13 Ruff and 87 Lapwing. At least 2 Snipe were visible on the back shoreline.
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Rushy Hide
A Spotted Redshank was feeding on the lower pond this morning. Also present were 4 Redshank, 3 Ruff and 11 Lapwing. Duck numbers are gradually increasing and soon we'll be starting our winter feeds here which will see numbers swell. This morning saw 20 Shelduck, 11 Pintail and 2 Pochard present with the Mallard, Tufted Duck and Teal. A Kingfisher flew through towards the Martin Smith Hide.
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Zeiss Hide
Only 21 Dunlin were present at high tide on the Top New Piece, with another flock of 46 over the fence on the Bottom New Piece. The presumed Semipalmated Sandpiper made a brief appearance but disappearing as the waders took flight. A Spotted Redshank was with 17 Redshank. A Cetti's Warbler was calling from the reedbed and 82 Shelduck were on the scrape.
Over the fence on the Bottom New Piece were 5 Curlew feeding in the field with 150 Lapwing, 4 Ruff and a small party of Starling.
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Holden Tower
A quieter copse this morning with the wind, although several flocks of Chaffinch flew past heading south so some migration appears to be underway. At least 5 Little Egret were on the edge of the Dumbles at high tide.
