Today's sightings- high Teal count and phalarope still here...
Eurasian Teal
3295! were counted from the hides this morning with 2314 present on the Tack Piece alone. The shallow flooding here is ideal for this species. As water levels rise they feed on the seeds that are washed out and have deeper water to retreat to if any predators are about.
Grey Phalarope
Seen on and off throughout the day, it has been spending time feeding in the dense rushes along the eastern (nearest to Zeiss Hide) shore of the Top New Piece marsh/floods. The bird does appear out on the flood every so often, it can be flighty (has been reported from the Dumbles floods too). It is possible to see it very distantly from the Holden Tower along the muddy fringe/ edge of the rushes.
Tack Piece
2200 Wigeon, 2314 Teal, 80 E. White-fronted Geese, 90 Bewick's Swans, Little Stint, 200 Dunlin, 10 Ruff, 200 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Grey Plover, 1200 Lapwing, 140 Greylag Geese, 90 Pintail, 60 Shoveler.
Barn Owl and Marsh Harrier seen flying over fields just N of here this afternoon.
Rushy Pen
2 first winter female Greater Scaup among the Pochard and Tufted Ducks flocks. 1 Snipe.
Holden Tower- Dumbles
Lapwing, Golden Plover and Dunlin varying numbers but in their 1000's. Peregrine Falcon, Barnacle Geese, Canada Geese, Bewick's Swans, Wigeon and Teal also present.
Zeiss Hide
1 Water Rail, 666 Teal, 2 Snipe, 70 Wigeon, 25 Shoveler.
South Lake
Great Crested Grebe, Pochard, Tufted Duck and Cormorants.
Grounds/Matrix (central section)
Lesser Redpoll 3, Siskin 1, Goldfinch 12, Chaffinch 6 all feeding in Alders.
