Sightings and news to the week ending 19 January 2025
19 January
The continuing winter visitors remain on site, the drake Green-winged Teal on the Top New Piece, 2cy Spoonbill on the South Lake, two Whooper Swans with 68 Bewick's Swans and a Little Stint on the Dumbles scrape. 1000s of birds remain on the reserve although wader numbers have dropped off a bit since the very wet spell. Only 5 Black-tailed Godwit noted today. Nine Avocet are now on South Lake.
At least 2490 Lapwing were scattered about the reserve.
Estuary Tower
For the second day Bullfinches were feeding the hedge below the hide.
Martin Smith Hide
Six Snipe on the islands and a Great Egret among the birds on the Tack Piece.
The Russian White-fronted Geese were very elusive, late afternoon a few were seen dropping into the fields along the canal South of Patch bridge.
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18 January
Two Little Stints on the Dumbles scrape again.
Rushy Hide/Peng Observatory
70 Bewicks over night and 2 Whoopers, 54 Shelduck, 35 Pintail, 113 Tufted, 13 Pochard 570 Lapwing, 1 Redshank, 20 Dunlin.
Kingfisher Hide
Four Gadwall, two Roe Deer on BNP along with a pair of Stonechat.
Steven Kirk Hide
33 Teal, 230 Wigeon, 6 Pintail, 16 Tufted Duck, 15 Shoveler, 2 Bewick’s Swan and Sparrowhawk.
Estuary Tower
1092 Golden Plover, 408 Dunlin, 2 Redshank, 10 Curlew, 42 Teal, 14 Shoveler, 4 Pintail, 195 Wigeon, Ross’s Goose in Barnacle flock, Peregrine Falcon
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17 January
Zeiss Hide
From Zeiss hide there were c130 Wigeon, c300 Teal, c250 Dunlin, c400 Lapwing, 3 Ruff and 2 Black tailed Godwit. In the Spinney a Treecreeper and a Kestrel were seen and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard drumming.
South Finger
On the walkway a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen and from Kingfisher Hide there was a Coal Tit on the feeders, Stonechat, Snipe and at least 53 White-fronted Goose on Bottom New Piece too.
Van de Bovenkamp Hide
Opposite Van de Bovenkamp hide a drake Green-winged Teal was spotted opposite the hide.
Marsh Garden
In the Alders there were Siskin, Redpoll and Goldfinch.
Rushy
First thing this morning there were 53 Bewick’s swans, 2 Whoopers and a Black Swan.
Robbie Garnett
The Tack Piece was alive with birds now the ice has gone. There were 19 Bewick’s Swans, 14 Ruff, 22 Redshank, 19 Curlew (including a flagged yellow ‘Y5’) and 2 Snipe. There were also hundreds of mobile Lapwing, Dunlin and Golden Plover being spooked as well as 346 Wigeon, 16 Pintail, 45 Shoveler, 130 Teal,1 Barnacle goose and Pochard.
Estuary Tower
From the Tower there were 285 Wigeon, 95 Teal, 8 Pintail, 35 Shoveler, 3 Shelduck on scrape and c100 duck on the Estuary. There were hundreds of mobile Lapwing, Dunlin and Golden Plover visible. Later in the day there were10 White-fronted Geese and 5 Curlew on Estuary plus 139 Barnacle geese with a Ross’s, Canada and Greylag geese. 2 Little Stint were also seen.
On the Pillbox pool there were 49 Wigeon and on the Long Ground Pool there were 11 male Pochard with 1 female, 25 Tufted Duck, 21 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall and 33 Greylag Goose.
South Lake
From Discovery Hide there were 4 Snipe, 10 Black tailed Godwit, 1 Dunlin, 1 Ruff, c400 Lapwing, the juvenile Spoonbill, 45 Pochard and a Great crested Grebe.
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16 January
Our day began with bright sunshine and clear views, until a bank of fog rolled in from 09:45am. It lifted slightly through the day, but we still got some good sightings from around the reserve.
Robbie Garnett Hide
On the Tack Piece it was really busy again with Redshank, Ruff, Curlew, Dunlin, Golden Plover and Lapwing. Wigeon and Teal returned to the scrapes and channels too.
Willow Hide
A water rail was present under the feeders.
Grounds
Through the grounds there was a small party of Siskin visiting the Alder trees.
Estuary Tower
From the tower a hunting Marsh Harrier was moving the Lapwing and Dunlin flocks about, a Little Stint was on and off the scrape too. There was a Ringed Plover on the Dumbles, 1 Oystercatcher, 96 Curlew and 33 Great black-backed gulls on the foreshore as well as 1000+ ducks (Pintail, Teal and Wigeon) on the Severn.
Kingfisher Hide
From Kingfisher Hide there were 70 Russian White-fronted Geese, 68 were in the Bottom New Piece and 2 were in the Top New Piece.
South Lake
First thing there were 2 male and 1 female Goldeneye, the juvenile Spoonbill, 6 Avocet, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, 600 Lapwing + Gadwall, Teal, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Mallard, Cormorant, Greylag and a Great crested grebe among the birds present.
Rushy
Two Whooper Swans were with 68 Bewick's Swans first thing this morning on the Rushy Lake
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15 January
A fog bound morning that cleared to reveal a sunny afternoon.
The second Whooper Swan that arrived yesterday has began to pair up with the long staying bird, that didn't take long!
The Spoonbill was again at South Lake with 6 Avocet, a drake Goldeneye and a few Redpolls and Siskins, the Russian White-fronted Geese were visiting the Tin Shed Ground, viewable from the Van de Bovenkamp Hide, although they were flushed by passing aircraft a few times. The Little Stint was still on the Dumbles feeding around the scrape.
A couple of Chiffchaff were noted on the Loopway.
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14 January
Estuary Tower
Two Marsh Harrier and two Peregrines on the Dumbles/Lower Dumbles/Dumbles foreshore this morning, the Little Stint was again feeding around the scrape.
Two Whooper Swans on the Rushy/Dumbles today, initially not associating with each other, the new arrival is one of the pair that overwintered here last year + 70 Bewick's Swans.
South Lake
Spoonbill, 6 Avocet, 8 Ruff, 13 Black-tailed Godwit, 11 Cormorant, 67m 5f Pochard early morning, Tufted Ducks, Gadwalls, Teal, Mallard plus Dunlin and a Snipe
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Ruff and Redshank gathering on the frozen Tack Piece scrape early morning, the thaw is now underway, full wetland feeding opportunities should resume for tomorrow.
13 January
Bottom New Piece
Flock of Canada and Greylag Geese with the Pink-footed Goose.
Kingfisher Hide- Water Rail in the reedbed.
Estuary Tower
A drake Goldeneye flew downriver and passed low as it rounded Tites Point at 0839hrs. A few Bewick's Swans ventured out to the Severn after leaving the Rushy, 1000+ ducks that are frozen out of the scrapes were on the Severn. The Spoonbill was seen flying toward the visitor centre at 1140hrs so has probably waiting for a thaw out on the Severn.
Rushy Hide/Peng Observatory
A dawn count of 67 Bewick's Swans and the Whooper Swan, 28 Pochard also among the 100s of ducks. Mid-morning a really nice gathering of waders were on the ice including Ruff, Redshank, Lapwing and Dunlin, also single Golden Plover and Curlew.
Van de Bovenkamp Hide
Redpoll and 2 Bullfinch, 10 Russian White-fronted Geese with the Greylag Goose flock, 100s Golden Plover, Lapwing and Dunlin in the field.
South Lake
The scrape remains frozen but Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit and Lapwing are roosting on the ice, still very busy with wildfowl on the unfrozen deep lake section + 71 Pochard, GC Grebe, Cormorants, Grey Heron and Coot and Moorhens all present.
Martin Smith Hide
Nine Snipe on the island.
Tack Piece- still frozen but 11 Ruff and 8 Redshank seen.
