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Latest sightings

Wet and windy!

Wet and windy!

The recent rains have topped up many of the pools and left standing water in many of the fields, particularly the fields around the South Finger hides and out on the Dumbles, where birds are making the most of the conditions! Holden Tower The Dumbles wer

2 February 2017

Today's sightings

Today's sightings

The reserve seems to have been coming alive over the last few days with the warmer weather.  This morning the Holden Walkway was alive with bird song of the resident species including Dunnock, Robin, Wren and Song Thrush.  As the morning progressed ther

1 February 2017

Increasing Bitterns and a Lapland Bunting

Increasing Bitterns and a Lapland Bunting

A rewarding morning was spent with a Birdwatch Morning group from 0800-1030am, we had a really nice selection of birds and a brief Otter!. After a break I spent until lunch doing a bit of 'Guide in the Hide -ing' in the Zeiss Hide, the birding was still b

29 January 2017

Sightings, Saturday 28th Jan

Sightings, Saturday 28th Jan

Rushy Bewick's Swan 152 Pintail 77 Pochard 45 Redshank 1 Dunlin 5 Little Stint 1 Hybrid Wigeon Holden Tower and Hides Whitefronted Goose 120 (flew in at 09.45) Barnacle Goose 120 Wigeon 850 Lapwing 140 Dunlin 20 Knot 12 over the estuary. Crane 3 Great Cre

28 January 2017

And colder again

And colder again

Having thawed out a little yesterday, some of the open water has refrozen and moved birds around a little.  Its a gloriously sunny day though with plenty to see. Holden Tower Nine Cranes were on the Tack Piece by early morning, arriving in small groups s

27 January 2017

It's warmer, honest!

It's warmer, honest!

The temperature has warmed up a couple of degrees from the last few days and much of the reserve is now free of ice, apart from a few sheltered waterbodies which still have a slight covering.  The birds have responded by moving back in with a great selec

26 January 2017

Today's sightings

Today's sightings

A great variety of notable species this morning including Goshawk, White-fronted Geese, Little Stint and our star Bitterns! South Lake Hides The scrape and duck marsh are completely frozen, but around 600 Lapwing and 8 Dunlin were braving the ice.  The d

25 January 2017

Foggy dawn, sunny day.

Foggy dawn, sunny day.

Once the fog cleared from the site we were left with a day of sunshine. Zeiss Hide Snipe flocks were feeding in the cut rush, image below was taken this morning. Yesterday Water Rail and Cetti's Warbler also showing well here. Van de Bovenkamp Hide At

24 January 2017

Cold snap continues

Cold snap continues

Another cold night with frost meant many areas remained frozen all day, a thaw after midday did open up feeding opportunities for some species. Water Rails were very much out on the open today. Birds were seen from Kingfisher Hide, Zeiss Hide (2) and W

22 January 2017

Sunny Saturday Sightings

Sunny Saturday Sightings

One of two Bitterns on view from the Van Der Bovenkamp hide this morning.   A very sunny start to the day giving great views of the birds from the hides: Van De Bovenkamp Hide Bittern- One showing very well  for prolonged periods of time in front o

21 January 2017

Bright frost and more Whitefronts.

Bright frost and more Whitefronts.

Hard frost this morning so activity confined largely to the ice free areas of the Rushy, South Lake and Zeiss Hide. Rushy Bewick 154 Pochard 120 Teal 180 Lapwing 70 Dunlin 1 Little Stint 1 Snipe 5 Redshank 1 South Lake Looking great in the sunshine. 1350

20 January 2017

Quality not quantity

Quality not quantity

It was rather quiet along the Tack Piece and out on the Dumbles this morning, but several thousand birds by contrast along the South Finger across the Top and Bottom New Piece fields. Zeiss Hide Star birds here this morning were a Bittern, seen flying tow

18 January 2017

WeBS count info for 15 January.

WeBS count info for 15 January.

The monthly WeBS (Wetland Bird Survey) count was rather disappointing for numbers, the drier winter has had an impact as well as the count following a freeze up which causes dispersal. The totals follow below as well as some highlights for the last two da

16 January 2017

Bright frosty morning but thawing rapidly

Bright frosty morning but thawing rapidly

Holden Tower High tide at 09.30 this morning pushed 1000 Wigeon onto the Dumbles edge. There were 180 Barnacle and 100 Canada Geese but no sign of the Brent so far. There were 20 GBB Gulls in the roost and 14 Redshank scattered along the edge. At least 6

14 January 2017

Waders in the wind

Waders in the wind

Despite the cold temperatures, light dusting of snow and gusty winds we've still got a great mix of waders around the reserve today, many braving the ice to wait out this morning's big high tide.   South Lake Hides A large chunk of the wintering Lapw

13 January 2017