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Another chilly start
Still plenty of action on the reserve today despite the chilly weather
Still plenty of action on the reserve today despite the chilly weather. The Tack Piece continues to be a hub of activity but birds are also being displaced by raptor activity.
The Glossy Ibis was again in the roadside fields near the canal today. Please view from a sensible distance and do not enter the field or descend the back from the canal.
Rushy Hide
A total of 97 Bewick's Swans were on the pond for this morning's feed. Many of them are continuing to head inland towards Slimbridge and Gossington villages to feed for the day. The Spoonbill dropped in to the back of the lower pond to feed under the weeping willow tree. The bird then moved over to the fence to the Martin Smith Hide and then continued back towards the estuary.
Martin Smith Hide
One of the Great Egrets flew off from the pond this morning towards the Decoy, and was later seen in flight from the Estuary Tower settling in the Long Ground Pool and Canoe Safari.
Van de Bovenkamp Hide
At least 104 White-fronted Geese were in the Tin Shed Ground this morning but moved off towards the Dumbles. The birds were later seen moving from the estuary back to the goose fields to the north of the Tack Piece, best viewed from the Estuary Tower looking north.
South Lake
Our Avocet count had increased to ten birds this morning on wader scrape, along with 438 Black-tailed Godwit, seven Shoveler, four Wigeon and 90+ Teal. The deep lake held smaller numbers of diving duck including 31 Tufted Duck, 28 Pochard, along with ten Cormorant.
Estuary Tower
Two Peregrine were out on the mudflats this morning, and by lunchtime at least three pairs of Crane were on the Dumbles. No sign this morning of the Dark-bellied Brent Geese or Pink-footed Geese but with lower tides and geese spread out around the reserve they may well still be present.
Robbie Garnett Hide
The Tack Piece held a mix of waders this morning including 20 Ruff, 36 Redshank, 14 Black-tailed Godwit plus hundreds of Lapwing, Golden Plover and Dunlin. Amongst the hundreds of Wigeon and Teal were at least ten Shoveler and 119 Pintail.
