Warblers as well as waders and wildfowl
Our hedgerows and scrubby areas have been full of warblers of late, if you checked any sheltered spot with berries today you would have seen and heard a few species. Both Common and Lesser Whitethroat, numerous Blackcaps, Chiffchaff and Willow, Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers were joined by at least one Redstart at the South Finger. Wheatears were also in evidence with at least one Whinchat at Middle Point.
The Top New Piece attracted some of the waders that were seen on the estuary but many of them chose to roost on the Dumbles in the long saltmarsh vegetation, presumably to get out of the wind. It was also the WeBS count today and some good counts were had. Highlights from key areas as follows.
Middle Point
Juvenile Arctic Tern, 302 Ringed Plover, 5 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 1 juvenile Little Stint (this bird hops, it has a damaged leg), 8 Turnstone, 9 Knot, 8 Sanderling, 2 male Bar-tailed Godwit, 260 Dunlin, 35 Shelduck on the mudflats before the tide came in. Whinchat and Wheatear.
Dumbles
104 Barnacle Geese, 5 Wheatear and 8 Yellow Wagtail among the cattle.
South Lake
Juvenile Black Tern all day, a few Sand Martins with the House Martins, 39 Gadwall, 30 Shoveler, 47 Teal, 200 Black-tailed Godwit (5 juveniles), 12 Ruff ( 2 juveniles), 82 Lapwing, 16 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 juvenile Avocet, juvenile Yellow Wagtail, a juvenile Common Gull with 120 Black-headed Gulls, Pochard, 14 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant. A juvenile Mediterranean Gull also paid a visit.
Top New Piece
Four Garganey among 93 Teal, 18 Shoveler and 17 Gadwall, 4 Avocet (3 young), Green Sandpiper, 12 Ruff (6 juveniles) as well as Curlew Sandpiper, Turnstone and Knot over high tide. Marsh Harrier and Buzzard were seen here today.
