Whooper Swans remain but distant

The pair of adult Whooper Swans seen last Thursday are still about, today they were viewable for a time albeit distantly from the Estuary Tower. Looking NE along the seawall to the third field beyond the Tack Piece it was possible to see them on the fleets, floods and field. The Severn View tower would offer greater height to scan for them but again they will be distant. We had some hopes that our first Bewick's Swans might just appear today as the winds had become Easterly during Saturday and Sunday but alas we still have none on the reserve.

Other highlights today included the following.

Top New Piece

Flocks of Teal and Wigeon on the flood.

Tack Piece

Spotted Redshank, 8 Redshank, 12 Ruff among the Lapwing and a few Golden Plover were always trying to settle but 500+ present, mostly seen in flight.

South Lake

White-rumped Sandpiper with c30 Dunlin on the wader scrape islands plus 2 Spotted Redshank and a Ruff, the Great Crested Grebe + flocks of Pochard and Tufted Duck were on deep lake, a single GBB Gull was seen early.

Estuary Tower

Two Little Stints among the Dunlin on the Dumbles + Lapwing flocks with leucistic bird among them. 19 Russian White-fronted Geese were flying around after being flushed by two people that walked across the reserve to the seawall. The pair of Whooper Swans were in the pasture field (Fifty Acre) looking NE beyond the Tack Piece and Severn Ground (winter passerine survival crop and stubble) it was possible to see them, sometimes they were out of view behind hedge or trees, the Severn View Tower may be better although distant. Marsh Harrier was over twice this morning, a few Fieldfare and Goldcrest below the hide, Barnacle, Canada and a few Greylag Geese as well as the Ross's Goose and hybrids, 39 GBB Gull + 2 LBB Gull roosting over the tide.

Both Song and Mistle Thrushes were singing today, the former on the North side of Rushy and latter from tallest trees between Long Ground and South Lake.

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