Sightings and news to week ending 9 March
4 March
The run of nights with sub-zero temperatures continued today, sunshine from sunrise and most of the day apart from a couple of hours mid-morning when bank of fog rolled in. This coincided with the morning rounds so were unable to see much.
Tin Shed Ground from Van de Bovenkamp Hide
123 Russian White-fronted Geese to East of the hide early morning.
Top New Piece
24 Lapwing, 100 Wigeon, singing Reed Bunting.
Bottom New Piece
Five Lapwing.
Rushy Hide/Peng Observatory
Two Bewick's Swans and 2 Whooper Swans remain, a few Wigeon + 400+ ducks (Pintail, Mallard, Shelduck, Teal, Tufted Ducks).
Estuary Tower
Two Little Stint on the Dumbles scrape.
Tack Piece
A pair of Goosander late morning were of note, probably migrants that were lost in the fog and decided to rest up.
South Lake
14 Cattle Egret resting on the deep lake islands but moved out to the fields over the canal. Up to 39 Avocet and 46 Black-tailed Godwit were on the largely frozen scrape which thawed out later in the day.
------------------------------------------
Estuary Tower
136 Russian White-fronted Geese on the Dumbles.
Willow Hide
A Firecrest was reported.
South Finger
Two Kingfishers at the nest bank, 2 Goldcrest and Treecreeper along path, a few singing Reed Buntings and Chiffchaff near Van de Bovenkamp Hide.
Top New Piece
11 Lapwing, Little Stint and 65 Dunlin but the dispersed+ 100 Wigeon.
Grounds
Chiffchaff in full song
----------------------------------------
