Pink-footed Geese and Bewick's Swans
A small flock of eight Pink-footed Geese have been seen upriver at Newnham on Severn/Arlingham lately, this morning they had found (or were led by other geese) to the Dumbles. This species used to be an annual visitor in their 100s but have become rather scarce in recent years, many recent records concern a lost juvenile that spends the winter here. Hopefully they will stay for the winter.
Other highlights included
Top New Piece
The Black-tailed Godwit flock and c90 Knot relocated to here after being attacked by a raptor on South Lake (probably Goshawk), 8 Golden Plover, 28 Redshank, 10 Dunlin, 22 Pintail, 18 Wigeon and c600 Teal also present.
South Lake
Single Greenshank, 40+ Knot, 15+ Ruff, 1st winter Spotted Redshank, 118 Shoveler, 8 Pochard, 34 Tufted Duck, 3 Shelduck, flocks of Teal, Mallard and Greylag + 4 calling Chiffchaff
The Dumbles
Over high tide there were 400 Lapwing, 21 Grey Plover, 144 Golden Plover, 20 Dunlin, 6 Redshank, 427 Wigeon, 12 Pintail, 25 Curlew, 66 Great Black-backed Gull, 113 Shelduck and 2 Buzzard. On the higher grassland and floods were 8 Pink-footed Geese, juvenile Greenland and 2 Russian White-fronted Geese + Barnacle and Canada Geese + Egyptian Goose that flew back to Tack Piece.
Rushy Hide
The pair of Bewick's Swans (Gastro and Roux), 18 male 5 female Pochard, Pochard x Ferruginous Duck male hybrid, 60 Tufted Duck, 18 Pintail + Teal, Mallard and 5 Mute Swan.
Visible Migration
Siskins, a few Chaffinch, numbers of Starling and Fieldfare and a single Brambling noted over today.
Tack Piece
170 Teal, 2 Pintail, 16 Wigeon and the mobile Egyptian Goose
