Wader watching
Now that temperatures have started to rise again we're seeing some of our waders return, particularly the Golden Plover. Today's best wader action is out at the Zeiss Hide with 7 species of wader recorded.
Zeiss Hide
The Spotted Redshank has returned to the scrape, a nice surprise. Other waders present include 600+ Lapwing, 150+ Golden Plover, 127 Dunlin, 3 Redshank, 6 Ruff, 5 Black-tailed Godwit and a few Snipe. Along with several thousand duck, mainly comprising Wigeon and Teal, but also including Pintail, Gadwall, Shoveler, Mallard and Tufted Duck, it makes for a great spectacle. Keep an eye out for Bittern and Water Rail too in the reedbed.
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Rushy Hide & Peng Observatory
A count of 96 Bewick's Swans this morning, including some of the recent arrivals. The Little Stint was present again this morning on the islands, feeding amongst the legs of the swans. Over lunch a small party of Dunlin arrived to join the Lapwing and a Redshank was busy feeding.
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Kingfisher Hide
A large carpet of Wigeon are busy feeding on the pastures near the hide, so why not pop down to enjoy this spectacle? On the water are a nice mix of duck, all showing well including Wigeon, Pintail, Gadwall and Teal with a Little Grebe continuing to show well too. Further out on the scrape were another 3 Ruff, Redshank, 200+ Lapwing and 159 Dunlin.
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Holden Tower
The geese were a little elusive this morning with only 58 White-fronted Geese counted. There has been no sign so far of the Brent Goose or Bean Goose. The flock of Cranes arrived on the Tack Piece mid-morning whilst it was quiet out on The Dumbles until lunchtime when the Barnacle Geese and Bewick's Swans dropped in. On the apples below the hide, look out for a female Blackcap which has taken to feeding on them.
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South Lake Hides
Lots of Lapwing are now roosting on the South Lake again with around 300 present this morning. Check for Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank amongst them. On the deep lake are a nice mix of duck including 6 Gadwall, 18 Pochard and a healthy number of Shoveler.
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