Use your ears

A few birds to be picked up with your ears today flying over the reserve

There were a few birds to be picked up with your ears this morning as they flew over the reserve, not least a Water Pipit which lifted off the Dumbles and flew north over the Tack Piece.

As you're working your way around the hides listen out for Siskin and Redpoll passing over, the odd Skylark flocks of Long-tailed Tits in the hedgerows - you might even find a Goldcrest or a Chiffchaff too.

Estuary Tower
A Water Pipit came off the Dumbles scrape and flew north calling. There were 45 Shelduck on the Dumbles along with the first arriving Golden Plover of the morning, before they moved to the Tack Piece. At least 42 Curlew werer on the mudflats off Middle Point. The Mistle Thrush was in the mistletoe above the Pillbox this morning. Duck on the Long Ground Pool included 12 Pochard, 14 Shoveler, 43 Tufted Duck and 41 Teal. A Grey Heron was also present.

Robbie Garnett Hide
A flock of 23 Ruff and 34 Ruff were on the Tack Piece feeding amongst Wigeon flock. Five White-fronted Geese (a pair with three young) and Buzzard were also noted.

Kingfisher Hide
At least 82 White-fronted Geese were in the Four Score this morning, with more hidden behind the hedgerow.

Zeiss Hide
The Canada Goose flock moved off Bottom New Piece towards river around 9am, presumably taking the Cackling Goose with them as it had not been seen at this point. A flock of 454 Dunlin were on the Top New Piece with the Lapwing flock and a pair of Bewick's Swans were at the north end. A Water Rail swam the channel in front of hide.

Rushy Hide
A count of 54 Bewick's Swans this morning, but possibly some new arrivals elsewhere on reserve. Also counted were 105 Pochard, the drake Mandarin and a lone Barnacle Goose wandering around the back meadow, plus the usual Pintail, Shelduck, Mallard and Tufted Duck.

• Share this article