Monday 16 January update, 100 species for 2023 so far

The wet and windy weather has come to end, for now at least.

We've added a few more bird species to the 2023 list taking us to 100 species so far (that we know of).

98. Water Pipit (one from Estuary Tower last week).
99. Kittiwake (seen daily from 12-15th with up to 7 seen in the estuary)
100. Dark-bellied Brent Goose (adult on 15th/16th)
101. Guillemot ( wind riven bird in the estuary and reserve recording area on 14th).

The Wild Winter Weekend certainly delivered the birding spectacle that we've carefully managed the reserve for. Still plenty of time to enjoy the species that are wintering here. Other sightings for today and the weekend as follows.

Top New Piece

On the 15th 1240 Teal, c200 Wigeon, 20 Gadwall and 36 Pintail were loafing on the flood and fleet. Similar counts today but some of the Black-tailed Godwits were also feeding here and two Cranes seem to be checking out their territory. A Merlin was seen on 15th.

Rushy Hide/Peng Observatory

First winter drake Greater Scaup still present, 38 Bewick's Swans at dawn with 51 on the Tack Piece and 7 feeding on the Bottom New Piece.

Estuary Tower

Great Egret roosting in the willows, 20 Gadwall and 39 Shoveler among the duck on the Long Ground Pool. Snow Goose and Ross's Goose with the Canada, Greylag and Barnacle Geese on the Dumbles. The adult Dark-bellied Brent Goose found yesterday (15th) was still on the Dumbles this morning, it was feeding on the lower saltmarsh shelf along the foreshore, yesterday it visited the Top New Piece. Early morning at least 122 Russian White-fronted Geese were on the Severn sands with Peregrine on a driftwood branch, the former birds relocated to Tack Piece. A Spoonbill (ringed individual from Denmark) was seen on the 14th and 15th, it seems to be feeding in the low tide pools on the Severn, yesterday roosting on the Lower Dumbles over the tide, this bird also visited the Top New Piece yesterday. A high tide count of 303 Curlew on 15th.

Tack Piece

Three Crane, 8 Shoveler, 15 Linnets, flocks of Ruff (24 on 15th), Redshank (42), Dunlin (1000+), Lapwing (2500+), Golden Plover (900) and Black-tailed Godwit (667 on 15th) and 93 Russian White-fronted Geese have settled to feed her,e today. a season record of 127 counted yesterday. 6 Roe Deer along the hedge today, sheltering from the NW winds. Two Marsh Harriers have been hunting over and are often over the fields to the North.

South Lake

23 Avocet (26 on 15th), a large increase in Shoveler with 252 counted here today + Black-headed and Common Gulls, a few Herring Gulls, flocks of Teal, Pochard, Tufted Duck and a few Gadwall, Pintail and Greylag Geese + 12 Cormorants. 300-600 Lapwing at times. A female Goldeneye was on the lake on 15th with two on 14th.

Grounds

Kingfisher in the Matrix. Two Lesser Redpoll with the 25+ Goldfinches roaming the site, yesterday they were between the Otter enclosure and Hogarth Hide for a time. Wild Goldeneye stil lvisit the collection birds, at least five individuals, two male and three females.

Car Park

1200+ Jackdaw at dawn and dusk, Mistle Thrush singing in the car park today.

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