Todays Sightings 22nd December
Rushy
Bewick's Swan 90 overnight
Teal 70
Lapwing 400 looking great in flight
Snipe 1 along left edge of lower pool.
Redshank 1
Grey Wagtail 1 close views in front of hide.
Martin Smith Pools
Some great close up birding here, the Jack Snipe was showing well with 2 common Snipe on right hand island. Small numbers of Teal, Pintail and wigeon displaying in the sunshine and a Cettis calling in the reeds.
Tack Piece
Dominated by 1500 Lapwing with 38 Redshank roosting in front of the Robbie Garnett hide. Just a scattering of teal and wigeon around the scrapes but the whole Whitefronted Goose flock and the bulk of the Bewick's Swans feeding among the Greylag and Canada's in the center of the field. Cranes very mobile but 5 here first thing.
Willow hide alive with Tits and Sparrows and at least one Water Rail.
Holden Tower
Dumbles dominated by the Cranes with 13 individuals including two juveniles and an unringed bird. Brent Goose distantly with the big flocks of Barnacle and Canada Geese. Two Peregrines on the cross fence and a brief hunting session mainly over the Top New Piece. The Long Ground Pool (100 m away to south of Holden) is the place for diving Ducks today, 120 Tufted and 90 Pochard were crammed in there.
South Lake
A slight increase to 46 Black Tailed Godwit here and a single early Oystercatcher. A good scattering of Ducks with 59 Tufted, 107 Shoveler and 85 Pochard (not sure if these are the same as the 90 on the long ground pool).
Zeiss Hide
Cracking birding here again, 1500 Wigeon, 632 Teal and 1000 Lapwing dominating the numbers also 296 Dunlin, 68 Pintail the two Peregrines 3 more Cranes and a singing Cettis Warbler. From 09.30 Golden Plover started to pour in with 700 plus and still more arriving by 10.00.
