The Tack Piece is 'alive'
Following on form Storm Bert where an extreme amount of rain fell from the sky, we have had high water levels across the fields. If possible we save the full flood of the Tack Piece for around the winter solstice but it has flooded earlier this winter period. The bird flocks are staggering, it's amazing to watch and fantastic to listen to. Constant movement to catch the eye or a whoosh of wings to hear. This weekend has seen some really good counts as the wintering birds settle in.
Today over 900 Black-tailed Godwit were counted with a count of 880 yesterday. 337 Lapwing, 3303 Golden Plover, 59 Redshank,145 Curlew, 100 Dunlin, 26 Ruff, 78 Shoveler, 420 Wigeon, flocks of Tufted Duck and Pochard. 780 Teal, 100 Pintail, Little Egret, 5 Pied Wagtail as well as Pink-footed Goose and large flocks of Greylag and Canada Geese (the four Canada x Farmyard Goose hybrids also).
The Little Stint was favouring the Dumbles again this weekend and the White-rumped Sandpiper was reported again from Estuary Tower on Saturday 30 November.
A couple of Kingfishers have been showing well in the grounds with Great and Little Egrets also using this area.
Long-staying scarcer birds included the Green-winged Teal drake on the Top New Piece with up to 1300 Teal. The juvenile Spoonbill at the South Lake with a female Goosander and 7 Avocet (Sunday 1 December) and female Goldeneye (Saturday 30 November). Although an annual visitor in small numbers, a Coal Tit at the South Finger feeding station has been keeping a few 'listers' happy.
