White-tailed Eagle, Pectoral Sandpiper and other news
Tuesday 17 September
The undoubted highlight today was an immature White-tailed Eagle that spent the morning around the estuary. Initially resting on the sands the tide pushed it off where it rested in oak trees at the south end of the reserve, when the tide dropped it returned to the sands for a time. Once the day warmed up it climbed high and was tracked as it flew downriver over Aust and Severn Beach.
This is only the second record for the reserve and like the first, it originates from a scheme to re-establish a population in England, this one is from the Isle of Wight. Our first wasn't actually seen, the day we closed for the start of lockdown it was on the Dumbles and Severn but flew off into Wales, we found out subsequently that it had been here thanks to the satellite trackers.
Pectoral Sandpiper
A juvenile arrived on Saturday14 September and has been touring the scrapes. It can often be found among the Ruff but has been noted at the Rushy, South Lake and Top New Piece so far.
Middle Point
Groups of ten and five Sanderling seen with around 60 Ringed Plover and Dunlin. A flock of c50 Curlew and 150 Shelduck also noted. An Osprey was seen on 14/15 and 16 September resting on dirftwood at low tide, the driftwood is located distantly to the North on the sands.
Rushy Hide/Peng Observatory
Four Snipe, 4 Greenshank, 3 Spotted Redshank, 10 Redshank, 52 Lapwing and at least 90 Teal today, it's been the favourite place for the 'shanks' over recent weeks with Black-tailed Godwits also visiting. One or two Green Sandpipers are seen on/off.
South Lake
Up to five Snipe, 30 Avocet, 195 Black-tailed Godwit, 107 Lapwing, around 15 Ruff included 2 juveniles today, the usual large flock of Teal, Black-headed Gulls, Shoveler, Tufted Ducks and Greylags also present with 2 Egyptian Geese yetserday.
Top New Piece
A Bittern again, it's been seen on many dates from the Zeiss Hide but flew over the Decoy at 12:45pm. Eight juvenile Ruff again today but at least 30 were feeding together here yesterday. Two juvenile Little-ringed Plover, were joined by nine juvenile Ringed Plover, a mixed flock of around 40 Ringed Plover and Dunlin called in for twenty minutes. 2 Greenshank, Water Rail, partially leucistic Marsh Harrier joined another with two Buzzards.
South Finger Reedbed
Calling Water Rails this morning.
Wild Safaris 16 September
Osprey (pm only), 2 Hobby, 3 Marsh Harrier inc partially leucistic bird, 5 Whinchat, Stonechat, 4 Roe Deer, 5 Grass Snake, Wheatear, Sparrowhawk, 4 Buzzard, Kestrel, Migrant Hawkers, Common and Ruddy Darters, 3 Golden Plover, Greenshank, 12 Cranes, 5 Avocet.
15 September
Middle Point
Osprey on driftwood to N, 5 Avocet, 6 Pintail, 7 Wigeon, Yellow Wagtail, Little-ringed Plover and Snipe over SW, 194 Shelduck, Great Egret, 10 Cormorant, 2 Sanderling with c50 Ringed Plover, c40 Dunlin, 10 Reed Bunting.
Martin Smith Hide
Two Garganey still on the pool.
