New bus service launching this summer, with access to WWT Slimbridge. Find out more.
Avocets settling in to breed
We now have Avocets sitting on eggs in the Rushy and South Lake
Breeding waders appear to have delayed laying eggs so far this season, a sensible move with really cold nights and the lack of vegetation growth. Lapwing have hatched a few broods on the Dumbles with more yet to come, thankfully the recent high tides didn't affect them.
Busy Rushy
The Little-ringed Plovers on the Rushy are very busy, the male continues to nest scrape but the female isn't ready to lay just yet, another male has been visiting to perform flights over the ponds. Up to 20 Avocet were present on the lower pond this morning and a few nests have now been established. The Oystercatchers continue to incubate their eggs. A pair of Redshank give us hope that they may choose to nest here this year, it should be a great site for them to rear young. Small parties of Black-tailed Godwit called in to feed, otherwise it was all about the ducks and geese, small numbers of Teal, Tufted Duck, Shelduck, Mallard and the two female Wigeon with Chiloe Wigeon hybrid male for company.
Estuary Tower/Summer Walkway/Dumbles
At least three Whimbrel continued to show well as seen from the viewing area on the seawall, a male Yellow Wagtail waso the scrape and turf briefly this morning as well as a pair of Crane, single Oystercatcher, pair of Black-headed Gull, 30 Greylag and 6 Canada Geese. 10+ Skylark and 13 male and 7 female Lapwing were further out, as the grass grows it will become harder to see them.
Middle Point
Two Grasshopper Warblers were reeling from the grass and reeds, 5+ Reed Warbler and Reed Buntings were also in the same area. We request that recordings and playback isn't used and that they are viewed only from the paths to avoid disturbing them, if they remain on territory we should be able to enjoy them all summer, the birds can be seen with patience especially on calmer days. Out on the adjacent mudflats a flock of 15 Ringed Plover and 53 Dunlin had a Little Stint for company, a pair of Curlew, two Whimbrel, Oystercatcher and Shelduck also fed here.
