Our Bewick's Swans remain

Our remaining flock of 41 Bewick's Swans are still with us today

Our remaining flock of 41 Bewick's Swans are still with us today. Looking back at the records early March has been a typical period when we'll see the last birds of year finally leave. In exceptional years we've had birds remain in to April, but we will likely see this remaining flock head off and start their journey back to their breeding grounds in Russia in the coming days.

Our wild bird feeds on the Rushy are continuing whilst the Bewick's Swans are still with us. Our full commentaries at 4pm have now finished, although we will still be calling in to the Peng Observatory to answer any questions.

Just off the reserve, the Glossy Ibis continues to show well in the roadside fields next to the cattle barn near the canal, and closer to Slimbridge Village were five Cattle Egret with five Little Egret feeding in a ploughed field.

Estuary Tower
The Great Egret moved to the Long Ground Pool mid morning, relocating from the Decoy, but the bird later flew north. There was a good showing of geese from the hide this morning including the adult Dark-bellied Brent Goose with 221 Barnacle Geese on the rising tide, the Ross's Goose, three Snow Geese along with a mix of Canada Geese and Greylag Geese. The flock of 198 Russian White-fronted Geese, along with the two Greenland race birds and the two Pink-footed Geese dropped in briefly before heading back to the inland fields near the Kingfisher Hide. A feeding flock of 72 Curlew were on the Dumbles and six Oystercatcher were roosting on the riverbank at high tide.

Later this afternoon four Cranes were seen on the Dumbles. Our pairs are now dispersing to their breeding territories so can be harder to see. One of our pairs can usually be seen to the north of the hide, look through the hedgerow to the arable field. Another pair hold territory in front of the Zeiss Hide and can be seen here or just over the seawall on the Dumbles, and another pair can be seen holding territory on the South Lake and are also known to use the roadside fields. We'll update more as the breeding season goes on as to how our Cranes are doing.

South Lake
The wader scrape held 39 Avocet, 113 Black-tailed Godwit, an adult Mediterranean Gull, 79 Shoveler and three Snipe this morning. Across the South Lake were 159 Black-headed Gulls, many gearing up for the breeding seaon. On the deep lake island was a single Cattle Egret which was later joined by another two birds. Other birds on the deep lake included 44 Tufted Duck, 11 Cormorant, 64 Pochard, eight Gadwall, a drake Mandarin, two Snipe roosting in the fallen trees, a Great Crested Grebe and three Little Grebe. A pair of Oystercatcher were feeding towards the Hogarth Hide, and another pair were feeding outside the Discovery Hide.

Zeiss Hide
A pair of Great Black-backed Gulls were on the island, with other birds on the Top New Piece including 11 Avocet, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, seven Snipe, 12 Redshank, 18 Pintail, 30 Shelduck, and 300+ Wigeon.

Kingfisher Hide
A male Lapwing was displaying over the Bottom New Piece this morning, and a male Skylark was singing. A pair of Water Rail were calling from the reedbed at the south end of the Top New Piece. The White-fronted Goose flock gradually flew from the Dumbles back to the inland fields, flying over hide.

Rushy Hide
All 41 Bewick's Swans remain with us this morning.

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