Estuary getting busier

There was a nice selection of waders on the estuary this morning as the tide was coming in.

There was a nice selection of waders on the estuary this morning as the tide was coming in. Many moved to roost on the Dumbles or the Top New Piece.

Estuary Tower
At least 240 Curlew were in the roost on the riverbank out on the Dumbles, along with a good number of Yellow Wagtails amongst the cattle.

Summer Walkway / Middle Point
An early morning low tide counts produced 286 Ringed Plover, a juvenile Little Stint, six Sanderling, nine juvenile Knot, a juvenile Greenshank, single Redshank, two Ruff, 161 Curlew, 38 Black-tailed Godwit, five Turnstone, 11 Teal and 67 Shelduck. In addition over the high tide were a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, two more juvenile Greenshank, whilst Ringed Plover increasing to at least 314 birds, along with three Common Sandpiper and two Whimbrel with the Curlew roost.

Zeiss Hide
The roost on the Top New Piece this morning included 123 Ringed Plover, 15 Avocet, 18 Ruff, 34 Redshank, two Turnstone and 12 Dunlin. Two Green Sandpiper and two Grey Heron were also noted.

South Lake
The wader scrape this morning held 12 Redshank, 266 Black-tailed Godwit, a juvenile Little-ringed Plover, 67 Lapwing, a single Snipe, eight Ruff, three Greenshank and a Green Sandpiper. Two female Mandarin were seen from the Hogarth Hide and a flock of 12 Ringed Plover flew thru.

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