End of January to week ending 2 February sightings and news.
27 January
Estuary Tower
2152 Golden Plover (522 Dumbles, 1630 Tack Piece) also a Peregrine on a kill.
A drake Green-winged Teal was on the Top New Piece flood + 500 Teal and 92 Wigeon, (telescope needed to view from here). Male Marsh Harrier hunting over. Two Little Stint with 2 Dunlin, 2 Herring Gull, 109 Wigeon, 24 Teal, 9 Pintail, 75 Shelduck on the Dumbles and scrape
Tack Piece
355 Black-tailed Godwit (they've returned, a few now almost in breeding plumage), the flock moved to the Top New Piece. 39 Redshank, 24 Ruff, 55 Curlew, 97 Shoveler, 830 Wigeon, 69 Pintail, 400+ Dunlin, 86 Teal + 2 Snipe from Martin Smith Hide. 9 Russian White-fronted Geese in the NE corner of the Tack Piece and 4 Cranes (Evie and 3 un-ringed).
Rushy Hide and Peng Observatory
The 2cy Glossy Ibis dropped in for a time mid morning. At least 71 Bewick's Swans and the pair of Whooper Swans were present at dawn, they to moved out to the Dumbles to feed.
Van de Bovenkamp Hide
Although the hides that look over here are closed at the moment, at least 65 Russian White-fronted Geese flew from the entrance road/canal fields to the Tin Shed Ground + 2 in the Four Score Ground. Might be worth looking from the towpath if you want to find them.
South Lake
Affected by the winds but 2cy Spoonbill, 10 Avocet, 144 Teal, 4 Gadwall, 34 Shoveler, Grey Heron, GC Grebe and 80+ Pochard sheltering with other ducks along the East shore. From the Hogarth Hide- 25 Siskin, Redpoll and 30 Goldfinch in the Alders by the bridge but they were also seen on the loopway and near the Otter enclosure. A single Oystercatcher was back on territory.
Due to the gales we've had to close off access to the hides that pass through the Spinney, South Finger and the Zeiss Hide have been closed on 26/27 January. The weather looks better for the rest of the week.
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