New bus service launching this summer, with access to WWT Slimbridge. Find out more.
Spring is coming
There are increasing signs of Spring around the reserve with more Oystercatcher and Avocet arriving, blossom and snowdrops flowering and even the first brood of Mallard ducklings of the year!
Holden Tower
Two Cranes were on the Dumbles this morning. The pair of Peregrine had a successful hunt and were sharing breakfast, only to then spend time arguing with a pair of Raven. The Barnacle Geese flock were grazing around scrape and numbered 236 birds. The Long Ground Pool was holding lots of diving duck this morning including 176 Tufted Duck and 83 Pochard.
Duck Decoy
A total of 43 Shelduck were busy displaying this morning as Spring starts to get to everyone and everything. Also present were 53 Mallard, a pair of Canada Geese, a pair of Greylag Geese, 29 Tufted Duck, two Coot, two Moorhen and a pair of Mandarin roosting under the ivy covered oak tree. A singing Skylark was in flight over the grounds and three Greenfinch were also seen.
Robbie Garnett Hide
Duck on the Tack Piece included 585 Wigeon and 44 Shoveler, along with numerous Teal and a few Pintail. The Golden Plover flock began to arrive around 8:30am and numbered 350+ birds but this had increased to over 800 by 10am. Along with Lapwing and Dunlin other waders present included 10 Ruff, 5 Curlew and 37 Redshank. The White-fronted Geese moved from the Stall House field to the Tack Piece mid-morning with at least 103 birds counted.
South Lake
Avocet numbers have increased again with the mild weather encouraging some Spring migration ready for the breeding season. A total of 22 birds were present this morning along with 43 Black-tailed Godwit, two pairs of Oystercatcher, 3 Dunlin, 1500+ Lapwing and 48 Shelduck. A total of 83 Tufted Duck were on the deep lake along with the Great Crested Grebe and 25 Pochard.
Zeiss Hide
Bird of note included an Oystercatcher, two Redshank, 350+ Dunlin, a Ruff, 850+ Wigeon, four Pintail, 146 Teal and the pair of Raven from the Dumbles. A further 70 Dunlin and 15 Wigeon were seen on the Bottom New Piece, also viewed from the Kingfisher Hide.
Martin Smith Hide
The Jack Snipe was showing again on the island with a few Common Snipe for comparison.
