Sightings and news to the week ending 19 January 2025
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.
