Ringed Plovers, a late autumn record

Over high tide this morning two Ringed Plover appeared on the foreshore, this is unusual for late November, it may well be the same two seen in early November and they have remained in the estuary, perhaps they might try to overwinter. The Dumbles was again a very busy spot today, the following was noted.

Estuary Tower (Dumbles and Tack Piece)

Chiffchaff with Long-tailed Tits, Fieldfare, 52 Pintail on the Severn with 170 Wigeon another 500 Wigeon favoured the Dumbles scrape, a Great Egret flew North and joined a second on the Tack Piece, a third was on the Top New piece with 2 Avocet on the flood. 2 Ringed Plover, 190 Curlew, ad Dark-bellied Brent, gathering flocks of Dunlin, Golden Plover and Lapwing inc leucistic bird, 2 Peregrine fighting 2 Buzzards over a kill.

Tack Piece

A Little Stint with the Dunlin, a Pink-footed Goose with Canada Geese, 20 Redshank and 7 Snipe from Martin Smith Hide.

Bottom New Piece from Kingfisher Hide

Two Russian White-fronted Geese on the field and 10 Pintail among the ducks on the flood, Gadwall and Shoveler along the fleet.

Rushy

37 Bewick's Swans at dawn but many left early morning.

Decoy Boardwalk/Marsh Garden

Flock of Siskin and calling Chiffchaff.

Van de Bovenkamp Hide

A few Teal and Gadwall feeding on duckweed in the filtration beds, Chiffchaff and Water Rail calling, Redpoll over.

Sunday 26 November

Kingfisher Hide

Marsh Harrier flushed a flock of 40 Black-tailed Godwit, 40 Russian White-fronted Geese on the Bottom New Piece.

Rushy

37 Bewick's Swans (broods 1, 1, 2, 2 and 3), three flew off at the feed so may be new in.

Estuary Tower

Singing Mistle Thrush, Chiffchaff, 580 Wigeon on the Dumbles scrape+ 200 on the Severn, a few Teal and Pintail, 24 GBB Gull and Skylark. Adult Dark-bellied Brent and the Lesser White-fronted Goose with Canada Geese, Ross's, two Barnacle x Canada, Snow x Bar-headed, Barnacle x Greylag hybrids, Peregrine, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk.

Tack Piece

Little Stint with c20 Dunlin on the central flood + a juvenile Bewick's Swan (lone, lost it's parents?) joined the pair of Whooper Swans, another three Bewick's Swans were on the long fleet.

Top New Piece

A Bittern from Van de Bovenkamp hide, 450 Teal plus flocks of Shoveler and Pintail, a single Avocet among 340+ Black-tailed Godwits, flocks of Lapwing and single GBB Gull.

South Lake

14 Cormorant, GC Grebe, a few Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwit with the Lapwing flock, 128 Shoveler, 200 Teal, 29 Pochard, 55 Tufted Duck+ Herring and Black-headed Gulls on the North causeway.

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