3 May-9 May Summary

The site remains closed to the public but some staff are working on maintaining the living collection, enabling farming to proceed and some essential habitat management work.

High Tides

Big tides towards the end of the week flooded some Lapwing nests on the lower ledge of the Dumbles but Lapwing and Curlew survived on the upper ledge.

Ducks

Two female Wigeon (Rushy and LGP) A female Pintail remains on the Rushy and only 3 female Shoveler seen on 3^rd, + c10 males. The female Goldeneye was last seen on the Long Ground Pool on 3^rd May and a male flew out of the collection pens on 7th. A few Teal remain on site, c6 males and one female from Zeiss went missing by 6^th, a pair summered last year so perhaps a breeding attempt on the cards this year? This would be a first for the reserve if they chose to breed. A male Garganey was also there on 8th.

Cranes

Still on course for our best breeding season. 5 pairs are attempting to breed.

Curlew

Wild breeding pair still incubating eggs, really worried that the next three tides might flood them out (night of 7^th and both tides on 8^th), At least 14 on the estuary including five unidentified head started birds.

Little-ringed Plover

South Lake pair are incubating in a protective cage on a wader scrape island near Hogarth Hide, some issues with neighbours! Black-headed Gulls and Avocets have chosen to nest around them. Rushy pair- Are now incubating 3 eggs in another Another single bird seen from the Zeiss on 3^rd, 100 Acre 4^th and Tack Piece on 7^th.

Lapwing

Sitting birds on the Dumbles, Incubating/defending birds in 50 Acre and 100 Acre. A week old chick seen in the 100 Acre.

Redshank

One or two nests may have flooded on the Dumbles.on 7^th as two agitated birds were seen. 100 Acre still very busy with this species, at least 13 birds present. Two on/off on the Tack Piece.

Black-tailed Godwits

Best count was 85, most birds preferring to feed and roost on the SL.

Oystercatcher

Nests on the roof of Discovery Hide, Duck Decoy Hide, in the Rushy and South/North American Pen and Arctic Adventure. Pair began nest scraping on the Dumbles and Loop field.

Avocets

130 counted across the site on 6^th. South Lake has the largest colony with 80 birds present, Rushy being the other colony with 32 birds. Feeding birds noted on Top New Piece and Tack Piece.

Kingfishers

The SL and South Finger pairs are very busy feeding young.

Black-headed Gulls

Sitting birds on the South Lake and Rushy.

Spring Migrants and notable highlights

1 May- 3 Wheatear

2 May- passage of Swifts.

3 May- 40 Swift, 8,1 and 15 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 3 Ruff, 1 Common Tern.

4 May- 1 Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 5 Hobby, 24 and 1 Dunlin, 14 Ringed Plover.

5 May- passage of Swifts, Swallows and Martins, 9 Grey Plover, 1 Knot, 1 Sanderling, 14 Ringed Plover, 35 Dunlin,1 Wheatear. 5 Hobby.

6 May- 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Sanderling, 5 Hobby.

7 May- 1 Willow Warbler, drake Garganey, Wheatear, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 30 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover, 18 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier

8 May- Cuckoo 2, 2ad and a first summer Med Gull were on the estuary. Greenshank on South Lake.

General/Other Wildlife

A pair of Egyptian Geese in the grounds moved to the car park then were in the Stall House later. Swifts heard screaming around the Sloane Tower on 6^th. Two Collared Dove squabs fledged in the Hostel Yard. Common and Lesser Whitethroats are noticeable with 35+ singing Sedge Warbler and Reed Warblers in every likely spot. A pair of Peregrines have been on the Dumbles all week. Three Grass snake were seen at the South Finger.

• Share this article