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Latest sightings

Today's sightings-another higher tide pushing waders in to the scrapes

Today's sightings-another higher tide pushing waders in to the scrapes

Another good birding day, should be good again tomorrow. Keep an eye out for the Harbour Seal, it was seen at high tide yesterday feeding just off the Dumbles edge. Zeiss Hide/Top New Piece Another good high tide period around 0930-1100 today, at least 32

31 August 2015

Today's sightings- Big tides, waders coming in from the estuary.

Today's sightings- Big tides, waders coming in from the estuary.

Zeiss Hide Over the morning tide and throughout the day the following numbers noted... Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Little Stint, 155 Ringed Plover, 12 Sanderling, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 9 Greenshank, Turnstone, 328 Dunlin, Spotted Redshank, 20 Redshank, 36 Ruff, 200 T

30 August 2015

Big tides and some great wader numbers.

Big tides and some great wader numbers.

High Tide A good high tide this morning covered all of the lower saltmarsh and forced the big flock of passage waders onto the Dumbles and into the scrapes. Good views especially from the Zeiss Hide at around 08.40 on the very top of the tide. Tomorrow sh

29 August 2015

Good fall of Waders

Good fall of Waders

The wet weather has at least been good for dropping a good selection of waders onto the estuary. Estuary The following were seen from the Dumbles edge this morning over high tide at 07.30; Little Stint 10 Curlew Sandpiper 7 Ringed Plover 420 (a very high

27 August 2015

Todays Sightings

Todays Sightings

Rushy Green Sandpiper 3 Common Sandpiper 2 Greenshank 2 Holden Tower and Tack Piece Peregrine Falcon 1 Crane 3 Green Sandpiper 1 Kingfisher 1 South Lake Greylag 320 Shoveler 45 Lapwing 210 Avocet 10 Black Tailed Godwit 128 Redshank 22 Great Crested Grebe

26 August 2015

Today's sightings- 'new in' Spotted Redshank

Today's sightings- 'new in' Spotted Redshank

Zeiss Hide Spotted Redshank- a fresh plumaged dusky juvenile, feeding among the Redshank flock in the shallows. Redshank- 24, Ruff 36 (mostly juveniles, various sizes, shades of buff/orange, also two adult females and males), Black-tailed Godwit-156, Red

25 August 2015

Torrential rain brings a fall of waders

Torrential rain brings a fall of waders

Rain overnight followed by a very heavy downpour mid morning produced a decent fall of wading birds to the estuary and scrapes. Some very high counts of certain species were very notable. 2 Marsh Harriers were around the reserve as a new in juvenile has

23 August 2015

Eclipse Duck challenge

Eclipse Duck challenge

Eclipse (molt1ng) Ducks. A great challenge at this time of year, work your way through the big mixed flocks of molting ducks. Both the South Lake and the Top New Piece (Zeiss Hide) are  covered in big mixed flocks of Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Tuf

22 August 2015

Today's bird news

Today's bird news

The Rushy Common Sandpiper 1 Green Sandpiper 8 Ruff 5 Black-tailed Godwit 20 Lapwing 15 Grey Heron 1 Common Crane 2 The South Lake Redshank 45 Black-tailed Godwit 116 Lapwing 80 Greylag Goose 300 Yellow Wagtail 1 Pied Wagtail 6 The Zeiss Hide Ruff 10 Gree

20 August 2015

Flocking Greylags,

Flocking Greylags,

Greylags, This is the time of year for peak counts of Greylags. Well over 500 birds are around the site at the moment. These are mostly local breeders that have recently moulted  and are now gathering in large numbers. It seems to have been a good breedi

19 August 2015

Today's sightings- migration stepping up

Today's sightings- migration stepping up

Zeiss Hide Wood Sandpiper 1 juvenile with 5 Green Sandpipers on flood in Bottom New Piece, also viewable from the Kingfisher Hide. 2 Greenshank-adult and juvenile for comparison, 167 Black-tailed Godwits, 30 Redshank, 22 Ruff (6 adults, 3 males in non-bre

18 August 2015

Today's sightings

Today's sightings

Waders At least 21 different species of these varied wetland birds have been noted on the reserve in the last few days. Ruff- a flock of up to 18 birds are roaming the reserve, 5 adults include two females in breeding plumage, one is very small. A varie

17 August 2015

A flush of juvenile waders

A flush of juvenile waders

Rushy Very busy here with great views of the Wood Sandpiper and 2 adult Greenshank. there was also a single Black Tailed Godwit and 2 Snipe. A family of 4 Grey Wagtails were around the edges and on the office roof. Watch out for two Garganey that dropped

15 August 2015

Juv Crane flying!

Juv Crane flying!

The Slimbridge wild born Common Crane juvenile has become more mobile, seen flying close to the centre with both parents. We hope it will show its self from the hides soon. The Holden Tower Bar-tailed Godwit 7 Curlew 170 Ruff 2 Redshank 40 Greenshank 1 Tu

14 August 2015

Wednesdays bird news

Wednesdays bird news

The Zeiss Hide Golden Plover 1 Ruff 2 Greenshank 2 Redshank 19 Lapwing 76 Avocet 5 The Rushy Wood Sandpiper 1 Green Sandpiper 8 Black-tailed Godwit 62 Common Crane 2 The South Lake Ruff 2 Redshank 10 Black-tailed Godwit 49 Great-crested Grebe 3 The Tack P

12 August 2015