Today's sightings- strong winds and seabirds in the estuary
Holden Tower
The gales pushed a few tired seabirds into the Bristol Channel and up as far as WWT Slimbridge today. A Leach's Petrel appeared and showed between 0925-0937hrs as it made it's way south along the Dumbles edge. The bird was 'walking on water' (flight behaviour used when feeding) and showed well before moving further upriver, eventually it headed across to the west side of the estuary and north. Later an adult Kittiwake was noted going N and a 1st winter was seen heading south. Great Skua and Fulmar had also been seen in local waters today.
Other species noted included a Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit, 320 Golden Plover, 800 Lapwing, 2 Little Stint, 350 Dunlin and 28 Curlew. Pintail and Wigeon flocks were out on the estuary.
Tack Piece
160 Curlew, 37 E.White-fronted Geese, 4 Bewick's Swans, 642 Teal, 589 Wigeon.
Rushy Pen
Bewick's Swan-18 at 0800hrs, they headed out the Tack Piece/Dumbles to feed.
Pochard 88, Pintail 53, Tufted Duck 184, Mallard 362. Pochard x Ferruginous Duck male.
Zeiss Hide
138 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Red Knot, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 5 Redshank, 5 Curlew, 40 Lapwing and 2 Ruff were feeding/roosting. Cetti's Warbler was calling in the reeds, the Bittern was seen to fly out and head toward the Long Ground. A large flock of Canada Geese were also present, 472 birds.
South Lake
The deep lake (Discovery Hide) is quiet (9 Cormorant) due to the strong winds but the more sheltered Hogarth Hide end is busy with birds. Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Snipe, Teal, Shoveler and a variety of gulls (400 birds).
Grounds
Common Darter dragonfly was weak but still flying near the Spinney, a late date.
