Left behind

Only seven Bewick's Swans remain this morning, including three juveniles left seemingly left behind by their parents

We arrived this morning to find just seven Bewick's Swans on the Rushy, and no other birds elsewhere on the reserve. A closer look revealed that of the four juveniles left, three had seemingly been left behind by their parents and another family have also split up, again...

Bewick's Swan update
Clear skies and an easterly wind encouraged most of the remaining 53 birds to leave overnight, with just seven present this morning. Adult pair Farlington & Grubby are still on the pond, along with lone adult Bubbly and her juvenile. Bubbly is paired with Soapy, and together this season they had two juveniles but the pair got separated with a juvenile each. They refound each other just a few days ago, but have now become separated again, and again with a juvenile each in tow. Hopefully they find each other again when they both return to their breeding territory in Russia.

Our other three juveniles are from two families - Orkney Reid & Doodles leaving behind two of their four juveniles, and Croupie & Wheel who have left behind their last remaining juvenile. The latter pair started the season with three juveniles, but sadly only one remains. We don't know what happened to the other two. With luck the 'lost' juveniles will follow the remaining adults back east and join with other birds to head back in the right direction.

The rest of today's sightings include...

Kingfisher Hide
A total of 358 Black-tailed Godwit were feeding in the Bottom New Piece this morning along with 51 Golden Plover, 43 Dunlin and 20 Lapwing. Ten Gadwall were on the pond and ditch in front of the hide, a Cetti's Warbler was heard and two Great Spotted Woodpecker were on the feeders. A Water Rail was also heard.

Willow Hide
Two Water Rail were under the bird feeders this morning.

South Lake
A flock of 58 Avocet were on the wader scrape with 38 Dunlin and eight Black-tailed Godwit. A colour-ringed Cormorant was perched on the rails on the deep lake, and a female Goldeneye was diving.

Robbie Garnett Hide
Some of the White-fronted Geese settled here after being flushed. A Peregrine flew through with a kill early morning. Other birds of note on the Tack Piece included several hundred Wigeon, 38 Curlew, a Redshank, a pair Oystercatcher, four Pintail and seven Shoveler.

Estuary Tower
A total of 12 Cranes on the Dumbles this morning including an unringed pair of adults, another unringed adult who is paired with Ruby, two juveniles and another six colour-ringed birds. All 198 White-fronted Geese were out on the estuary having been flushed by a helicopter, only to be flushed by a second helicopter shortly after. They along with other geese, Curlew and Avocet were all disturbed. The White-fronted Goose flock then dispersed across reserve and estuary.

Martin Smith Hide
A Snipe was on the left hand island. Also noted were 20 Wigeon, four Teal and a drake Shoveler.

Peng Observatory
Along with the remaining seven Bewick's Swans were two Pochard and 86 Pintail, with seven Avocet on the lower pond.

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