Sheltering Curlews

Zeiss Hide

Strong winds brought 117 Curlew into the Top New Piece to roost over high tide. Also 90 Dunlin among 220 Lapwing but still looking for yesterdays Little Stint, there were15 Redshank with the Spot Red among them. Ducks dominated by over 1000 Teal, 270 Wigeon but good to see 34 Pintail and 18 Shoveler all enjoying the flooded conditions. Most of the Goose activity was in the Bottom New Piece with over 200 Barnacles lots of Greylag and 12 Euro Whitefronts and the juvenile Greenland, the 8 Pinkfooted Goose were visible on the Dumbles. Both Water Rail and Cettis calling in front of the hide, there were 4 Cranes and a Stoat was seen from the Kingfisher Hide.

Tack Piece

Great to see the field flooding and birds starting to feed there. Summer walkway remains open but will close on Monday to allow the flocks using the Tack Piece to increase. Over 100 Wigeon, 43 Teal and 8 Pintail. Lapwing around 130 and 2 Redshank.

Estuary

Bleak conditions in the wind but Dumbles looking great with extensive flooding. There were lots of Canada Geese, 62 GBB Gulls in the roost, a male Peregrine on the cross fence and flocks of Fieldfare with a few Redwing moving south, a scattering of Meadow Pipits and Skylark were around the Dumbles scrape. Cant wait to get the new Estuary Tower open (15 days and counting) for great views across the scrape and over parts of the estuary that were out of view in the past.

Rushy

Pochard 55, Pintail 29 a Grey Wag but no signs of the 4 Bewicks Swan that were flying around yesterday.

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