Shoveler show
Northern Shoveler flocks are brilliant at the moment, good numbers have been gathering on the South Lake and Tack Piece with close views from the Discovery and Hogarth Hides and the Robbie Garnett hide in particular. During gales they may be sheltering from the wind behind vegetation or banks but many continue to feed on the choppy waves. Their short flight displays ad whirlygig feeding technique have been obvious.
South Lake
Avocet have increased to 18 with 294 Black-tailed Godwit and a flock of 10 Ruff and 12 Redshank for a time, the latter two species arriving to hide from a hunting Peregrine. Two Great Crested Grebe were on the deep lake. Other counts included 4 Oystercatcher, 52 Shoveler, 250 Lapwing, 2 Pintail and a Wigeon.
Zeiss Hide
Cetti's Warbler, 12 Pintail, 41 Dunlin, 12 Shoveler, 500+ Teal, 18 Canada Geese and 397 Wigeon on the hide round.
Kingfisher Hide
3 pairs of Gadwall, Little Grebe, Grey Heron, 533 Dunlin and 200 Lapwing.
Estuary Tower
Another high tide flooded onto the Dumbles this morning, this pushed the birds closer to the hide or into the Tack Piece. At least 18 Bewick's Swans were on the Tack Piece/Ox Piece by 0930am. Russian White-fronted Geese began dropping in with the Greylag, Barnacle and Canada Geese mid-morning with at least 40 seen.
