New bus service launching this summer, with access to WWT Slimbridge. Find out more.
First two Bewick's Swans return
Visitors kindly reported two Bewick' Swans flying over the grounds this morning, we are always careful with shouting about them until seeing them at rest, Whooper Swans have been seen locally this week including one nearby at Frampton on Severn this morning, so we like to get a good view to confirm. The swan pair were found asleep on the Dumbles, after a long rest they revealed their bills to confirm that our smallest swan species had indeed arrived on site. They have been too distant to see the bill patterns but we hope to see them a bit closer of the next few days.The Dumbles is a great place for them to feed, they enjoy grazing and pulling up the roots of various plant species in the flooded pools.
Other notable birds and counts today included the following
Rushy Hide
At least 14 Pintail seen here this morning and a Greenshank was seen.
Tack Piece
The two Russian and juvenile Greenland White-fronted Goose were in the company of Greylag Geese. 160 Teal, 4 Redshank, 6 Pintail and 5 Wigeon were on the scrape.
The Dumbles/Summer Walkway
6 Cranes, a Water Pipit flew in from Tack Piece and dropped down to the puddles briefly, 4 Skylark, 58 Wigeon, 53 Great Black-backed Gull, 260 Golden Plover, 510 Lapwing, 8 Meadow Pipit, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Chifchaff were among the highlights.
Middle Point
21 Grey Plover, 8 Dunlin, 108 Shelduck, 6 Curlew, 3 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 70+ Wigeon and a flock of Linnets along the foreshore to the South over high tide and 6 Siskin flew across the estuary. Another juvenile Greenland White-fronted Goose was along the foreshore to the North it was walking across the sands/mudlfats mid channel at low tide.
South Lake
8 Pochard, 6 Cormorant, 515 Black-tailed Godwit with 40 Knot and 10+ Ruff hidden among the tightly packed wader roost, 110 Lapwing, 70 Teal, 2 Little Grebe
Top New Piece/Zeiss Hide
24 Redshank, 2 Snipe, 6 Dunlin, c200 mobile Golden Plover, Buzzard, 34 Pintail, 130 Wigeon, 450 Teal and a Peregrine on the Dumbles cross fence.
