A Canteen of Spoonbills

We currently have at least eight Spoonbill on the reserve - the collective noun being a canteen

We currently have at least eight Spoonbill on the reserve - the collective noun being a canteen. The birds have been coming in to the Top New Piece and Dumbles to roost over high tide, so look for them from the Zeiss Hide or Estuary Tower, or walk out to Middle Point at other times of the day.

South Lake Discovery Hide and Hogarth Hide
The main flock of Black-tailed Godwit contained 173 birds. Two Green Sandpiper and two Snipe were on the duck marsh this morning following the cutting work we carried out yesterday. Four Ruff were also noted between here and the wader scrape.

Decoy Hide
Four drake Mandarin and a single female were on the pond this morning. Two Little Grebe were also seen.

Zeiss Hide
A Kingfisher was showing well this morning, perching in the reeds and fishing. The eight Spoonbill were present over high tide, and also noted were a Greenshank, eight Ruff, 443 Teal, 42 Shoveler, two Great Egret and a single Cattle Egret.

Summer Walkway / Middle Point
Four Stonechat, a Whinchat and a Wheatear were on the fence below the viewing point near the Pillbox. A Peregrine and Marsh Harrier were also noted. Down from Middle Point on the riverbank were 151 Shelduck, four Pintail and a Wigeon, a Common Sandpiper, a Great Egret, ten Little Egret, 300+ small waders (most likely Dunlin and Ringed Plover) and a single Knot at high tide. Last night a flock of 68 Knot were present.

Estuary Tower
At least 157 Curlew came in to roost on the riverbank this morning at high tide. Last night a total of 414 Curlew were counted on the mudflats as the tide came in, a higher than normal count for this section of the estuary so may have included birds disturbed from elsewhere. The eight Spoonbill could be seen from here over on the Top New Piece. Later in the day six Cranes were on the Dumbles, including four unringed birds.

Kingfisher Hide
The male and female Kingfishers have been continuing to feed their growing chicks in the nest hole today.

Knott Hide
The Water Rail was showing well again around the small reedbed pool. Out on the main body of water were a single Green Sandpiper and a Little Egret.

Robbie Garnett Hide
Birds this morning on the newly created islands included 72 Teal and six Shoveler.

Rushy Hide
A flock of 40 Black-tailed Godwit were noted this morning, along with three Snipe, three Ruff, three Redshank and 48 Lapwing. A Cetti's Warbler was also calling.

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