Today's sightings
The warm dry weather continues and some of our pools and scrapes are really struggling as we're unable to maintain levels much higher without some inflow. Sadly the South Lake, Tack Piece and Pillbox Pool are drying but the scrape on the Top New Piece from the Zeiss Hide is still holding water and most of our waders that haven't headed out to the river.
South Lake Hides
The pair of Avocet still have their single chick near the hide, and at lunchtime 3 Little-ringed Plovers were close to the hide too. Other waders on the scrape include 28 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Redshank, 8 Lapwing and an Oystercatcher. A Grey Heron and Little Grebe were also seen but there is sad news for our Great Crested Grebe family who are now down to just one chick.
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Zeiss Hide
Waders here include 127 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Ruff, 36 Redshank, 26 Dunlin and 36 Lapwing. A Roe Deer was also seen.
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Rushy Hide
Six broods of Avocet were present this morning with 12 adults. Some of the chicks are almost at fledging stage whereas some are still very small. Other birds of note included 3 Lapwing, 4 Oystercatcher including one juvenile and a Green Sandpiper.
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Holden Walkway hides
A Green Sandpiper and 2 Avocet were on the Tack Piece scrape and a Yellow Wagtail was flying over. The juvenile Cuckoo continues to beg for food from its Reed Warbler parents near the Willow Hide, although is now becoming more mobile. From the Holden Tower the Crane family could be seen out on the Dumbles, a total of 10 Green Sandpiper were on the Pillbox Pool with 2 Little Egret and 4 Lapwing. Out on the river were 141 Curlew roosting as the tide fell.
