More LRP action

There were possibly five Little-ringed Plover on the reserve this morning with plenty of action going on

There were possibly five Little-ringed Plover (LRP) on the reserve this morning with plenty of action going on. A pair were on the Rushy with the male making all the right moves to an unimpressed female, and another pair on the South Lake who were chasing off a lone male.

Kingfisher Hide
One of the juvenile Kingfishers was perched in reeds this morning in South Finger Reedbed (viewed to east of the hide from large picture windows). The young bird had a fish, but managed to drop it rather than eat it. The bird then sat looking longingly at the ground hoping the fish would come back. Meanwhile just over the fence the adult pair were mating outside nest bank.

South Lake
Some of the first signs of autumn on the wader scrape this morning with the post-breeding Lapwing flock starting to build, now numbering 20 birds. As well as the pair of Little-ringed Plover chasing off another male, the wader scrape held 2 broods of Oystercatcher (both with 2 chicks), a brood of Shelduck, 57 Black-tailed Godwit and 21 Avocet.

Zeiss Hide
The Spoonbill was asleep again on the Top New Piece, we promise it is a real bird! Also on the scrape were 6 Redshank, 20 Avocet plus a single chick who has been moved over from the Dumbles scrape, an Oystercatcher, a drake Wigeon, a Little-ringed Plover and a brood of Shelduck.

Rushy Hide
The pair of Little-ringed Plover were again close to the hide, with the male in full display to an unimpressed female. However the pair were seen nest scraping later in the day. One of the Mediterranean Gulls were present this morning, increasing to three by lunchtime. Also n the upper pond were 18 Tufted Duck, 2 drake Shoveler and 19 Gadwall with 38 Avocet split between both ponds.

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