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Severn floods the Dumbles
A very high tide flooded the foreshore and Dumbles, creating perfect conditions for birds, at least 3000 birds were feeding here after tide had dropped. We have an even bigger tide forecast tomorrow. Best place to view is from the Sheperd's Hut hide or from the Sevenr Viewing area on the seawall. Please do not venture out to the foreshore during high tide as it will be impossible to see where the deeper areas are.
The heavy rains are filling up up the scrapes, higher water levels are inevitable during or post heavy deluges.
Highlights today included
Middle Point/Dumbles
Juvenile Black Tern headed South, a Fulmar floated up, a Kittiwake was seen along with c40 Red Knot, small parties of Dunlin and 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Wheatear, flocks of Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Skylark and Goldfinch were seen. A Short-eared Owl, Kestrel and Buzzard were also seen over the tide, no doubt hunting voles that were flooded out of the grass. A Hobby whizzed through south. At least 22 Ruff fed on the flooded Dumbles with flocks of Lapwing, Curlew, Canada and Greylag Geese, Wigeon, Pintail, Teal, Mallard, Shelduck and Black-headed Gulls, the usual GBB, LBB and Herring Gulls were joined by small groups of Common Gull. Flocks of Swallow, House and Sand Martin also feeding over the floods and grassland.
Tack Piece
Spotted Redshank with 10 Black-tailed Godwit briefly, the limping Avocet and 50 Teal also seen.
Rushy Hide
At least 200 Teal.
South Lake
Two acrobatic juvenile Black Terns, 5 Pochard, 60 Tufted Duck, 202 Black-tailed Godwit, 16 Redshank, the Spotted Redshank roosted during the day. Lots of Teal, Greylag and Shelduck fed on seeds and vegetation now flooded by the rains.
Top New Piece/Zeiss Hide
Busy over the high tide with Spoonbill, 3 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Sanderling, 130 Dunlin, 102 Ringed Plover, 1 Little-ringed Plover, Golden Plover, 70 Lapwing, 16 Ruff, 1 Greenshank, 7 Redshank, 45+ Snipe, 10 Avocet, 15 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit (went back to the estuary), 700 Teal, 12 Wigeon, 1 Pintail, 2+ Yellow Wagtail, Marsh Harrier and more.
Duck Decoy
Male Mandarin feeding on acorns.
