Drama at the nest bank?

This morning two Kingfishers were seen fighting, locking beaks and dropping in to the reeds

This morning two Kingfishers were seen fighting, locking beaks and dropping in to the reeds. Yesterday a third bird was seen - is there another bird trying to muscle in on the resident pair?

Willow Hide
A singing Chiffchaff was in the Decoy Wood, whilst closer to the hide under the feeders were two Water Rail. A male Reed Bunting was on the feeders with 14 House Sparrow.

South Lake
Listen out on your approach to the hide, a singing Chiffchaff and singing Blackcap were in the hedge along the rhine this morning. From the hide the female Goldeneye was showing well on deep lake close in, and out on the open water were the pair of Great Crested Grebe and 41 Tufted Duck. Ten Cormorant were roosting on the beams. The wader scrape held a total of 545 Black-tailed Godwit, nine Avocet, 50 Shoveler, two pairs of Gadwall, a pair of Wigeon, a single Snipe and two pairs of Oystercatcher. A pair of Kingfisher made several fly-pasts

Decoy Hide
A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in trees along the boardwalk. Birds on the pond included 21 Tufted Duck, 29 Shelduck and a pair of Gadwall.

Estuary Tower
Out on the Dumbles towards the riverbank were a flock of 44 Curlew and a pair of Oystercatcher. At least 20 Lapwing were on the Dumbles too, with many displaying males. South over the crossfence on the Lower Dumbles were another 74 Curlew, two pairs of Oystercatcher and four Black-tailed Godwit. A Peregrine was sat on the fenceline. Closer to the hide on the Dumbles scrape were 25 Avocet, two Curlew (including head-started bird 24), six pairs of Shoveler, two Redshank, a pair of Pintail, a pair of Oystercatcher, 15 Teal and 236 Wigeon.

A Spoonbill arrived on the Dumbles scrape just before lunchtime, presumably pushed off the river by the rising tide. The bird spent a short time feeding on the scrape before presumably heading back to the river as it couldn't be found on the Tack Piece, Rushy or South Lake. The Cattle Egret also returned to stalk the seawall and grassy margins of the Pillbox Pool. A small flock of 11 Golden Plover were also roosting on the Dumbles near the riverbank.

Robbie Garnett Hide
A pair of Oystercatcher were on the Tack Piece with 36 Wigeon, two pairs of Pintail, eight Shoveler, two drake Gadwall, a single Curlew and a flock of 143 Barnacle Geese. This afternoon Crane pair Kia and Chocolo were showing well on the Tack Piece, having moved here from the Ox Piece to the north.

Rushy Hide
There were no Pintail present this morning, the winter is truly coming to an end! The lower pond held five Avocet and three Redshank with a pair of Oystercatcher on the upper pond plus 38 Tufted Duck and a pair of Wigeon.

Kingfisher Hide
Along with the activity of the Kingfishers, the Bottom New Piece is also where our White-fronted Geese spent the morning with 115 birds counted. This afternoon Crane pair Oakie and Sherbert were seen in the field too.

Zeiss Hide
Most of the Avocet were on the Top New Piece this morning with 63 birds present. We believe the reserve total today is 102 birds. Also counted this morning were 105 Wigeon, five Shoveler, 43 Shelduck, 27 Teal and five Gadwall. The White-fronted Goose flock relocated here around lunchtime, most on the main part of the field but a small group broke away and were to the north of the hide. In all at least 102 birds were present, with another pair remaining on the Tack Piece seen from the Estuary Tower.

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