Today's sightings
Another sunny day out on the reserve. We're managing out water levels as best we can to keep our scrape and pools topped up for the birds but the weather isn't helping.
Rushy Hide
Several broods of duck were out on the Rushy this morning including two Mallard, one Shelduck, four Tufted Duck and one Gadwall. There are also lots of Avocet chicks out across the lower pond this morning with 11 adults. An adult Crane could be seen on the back meadow, presumably with the chick.
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South Lake Hides
On the wader scrape were 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Redshank and Avocet pair with chick whilst a Green Sandpiper was on the duck marsh from the Hogarth Hide. A Great Crested Grebe was preening near nest and Little Grebe was carrying a fish on deep lake into the willows near the Discovery Hide. Duck on the deep lake included a drake Pochard and 54 Gadwall. A juvenile Kingfisher flew past the hide. A juvenile Oystercatcher was still begging for food from an adult, and 3 other adults were also present.
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Robbie Garnett Hide
A drake Wigeon was grazing on the edge of the scrape, two Green Sandpiper were on the edge of the island in front of the hide and a total of 11 Avocet, 14 Lapwing and a single Redshank. The female Shoveler still has a single duckling on the pool in front of the Martin Smith Hide nearby. The juvenile Cuckoo is still begging for food near the Willow Hide.
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Holden Tower
The Crane family were foraging across the Dumbles this morning. Out on the river were at least 14 Curlew and 31 Shelduck viewable from the tower. A group of 6 Green Sandpiper were on the Pillbox Pool near the tower.
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Zeiss Hide
The flock of Black-tailed Godwit continue to grow as birds arrive from the breeding grounds, this morning there were 182 birds. Also on the scrape were 5 moulting male Ruff, 25 Lapwing plus two nearly fledged juveniles, 34 Redshank and 53 Avocet.
