A blustery start

It is rather windy this morning, with birds taking shelter where they can and bringing some closer to our hides

It is rather windy this morning, with birds taking shelter where they can and bringing some closer to our hides.

Grounds
Three Pintail, two Teal and 124 Tufted Duck were amongst the Mallard on the Big Pen (outside Visitor Centre) this morning. During the week up to seven Pintail and two Shoveler have been here.

South Lake
Three drake Pochard are new in on the deep lake this morning, with at least 111 Shoveler also present. Seven Cormorant were also perched up. The wader scrape was holding a good number of Teal along with seven Avocet and 11 Black-tailed Godwit.

Shepherd's Hut
A Marsh Harrier was quartering the paleochannel inland of the seawall this morning.

Middle Point
It is rather blustery and thus quiet out on the estuary this morning, but 270 Shelduck and several hundred Curlew were feeding across the mudflats. The flock of small waders were sheltering to the north, and closer to the point were 17 Pintail and a single Wigeon roosting in the channel. Eight Cranes were also on the mudflats.

Estuary Tower
Two unringed Cranes were on the Dumbles, with a second ringed pair to the south. At least 25 Curlew were feeding in the long grass. Over on the Long Ground Pool were a Green Sandpiper, a Grey Heron and two Little Egret.

Robbie Garnett Hide
Four Spotted Redshank were roosting here this morning with 26 Black-tailed Godwit and a single Ruff, plus several hundred Teal and 33 Wigeon.

Rushy Hide
Nine Redshank, 48 Black-tailed Godwit, a Ruff and a Grey Heron were noted this morning.

Zeiss Hide
Water levels have been dropping here through the week whilst we carry out some improvement works on the South Finger Extension, viewed from the Kingfisher Hide. The water bodies are connected so to lower water levels to allow machinery access, the Top New Piece has also dropped. We will be bringing the water levels back up again from this evening and should recover quickly.

Birds on the Top New Piece this morning included a small flock of Ruff and a single Avocet.

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