Growing fast

Many of our young birds are getting big now, with some likely to fledge in the coming days.

Many of our young birds are getting big now, with some likely to fledge in the coming days. Amongst them are Greylag Goose goslings, Oystercatcher and Avocet chicks, and we think the brood of Kingfishers have already fledged!

Middle Point / Summer Walkway
Six Sanderling and a single Grey Plover flew upriver past Middle Point as the tide was dropping this morning. From the Shepherd's Hut you can hear lots of singing Reed Warbler and a few Reed Bunting, with Skylark and Goldfinch nearby. A Stonechat was also noted, a more unusual sighting here for the time of year.

Estuary Tower
A pair of Crane were on the Dumbles this morning. A Cuckoo was singing from the Decoy and Canoe Safari area.

South Lake
Two pairs of Little Ringed Plover were displaying over the wader scrape this morning, with one pair seen mating later on. The two families of Oystercatcher now both have well-grown chicks who are only a few days off fledging. There are also lots of big Avocet chicks amongst the adults - with 30 chicks in all this morning. A Little Grebe was discreetly carrying a fish towards the north-west corner of the deep lake, a sign they may now also have chicks to feed at a nest here. Also on the deep lake were a pair of Wigeon and four drake Pochard.

Kingfisher Hide
We're seeing reduced activity now from the Kingfisher pair as we think the first brood have fledged and the adults are getting ready for a second brood. All being well lots of activity again in about 3 to 4 weeks' time, so keep an eye on our sightings for more details.

Rushy Hide
The moulting flock of Gadwall continues to build with 71 birds counted this morning. At least three broods of Avocet chicks are also on the lower pond, but with adults regularly brooding them its hard to get a count yet of how many chicks. A brood of four Black-headed Gull chicks are on the lower pond island. Also of note were four drake Shoveler, a drake Pochard and a pair of Teal.

Martin Smith Hide
Two Little Egret and the colour-ringed Great Egret were stalking the pond again this morning. The latter was ringed as a male chick in the nest in April 2022 on the Somerset Levels. The bird was seen after fledging on the Isle of Wight in July 2022 and then at Upton Warren in Worcestershire in May 2023. Given the bird's age, its unusual for him to have developed a black bill this breeding season.

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