Latest sightings
Scoter and Skua
Another very windy night resulted in a couple of windblown birds being driven up the estuary, on the morning tide a drake Common Scoter could be seen from the Estuary Tower until the tide dropped and it headed back down. Later in the morning a Great Skua
23 February 2020
Tack Piece alive with birds
Tack PieceThe floods have receded a little creating great conditions for some fantastic birding. The Wigeon flock has increased to 1710 with a scattering of Teal, Pintail and Shoveler. One or two Whitefronted Geese were in the field but the bulk of the fl
22 February 2020
Godwit and Avocet increases
South LakeGreat to see an increase to 35 Avocet here this morning and a huge sheltering flock of 307 Black Tailed Godwit. Check out views from the Hogarth Hide as all the birds are packed in here out of the wind. Great close ups of Teal and Shoveler here
21 February 2020
A break from the rain
It seems like a long time ago since we last had a sunny afternoon but today provided exactly that. South Lake The Avocet flock had increased to 32 by the afternoon and the Black-tailed Godwit flocks and two pairs Oystercatcher. Tack Piece134 Curlew, 56 Re
20 February 2020
Look out for Curlew
The Tack Piece is looking very very wet at present with a large portion of the field underwater from the recent rains.
18 February 2020
Storm Dennis moves on through
Just when you thought it couldn't get any wetter, Storm Dennis brought lots of heavy rain which has driven up water levels on the fields, ponds and ditches. A few paths were flooded today, nothing to worry about, only a few shallow puddles and should drop
16 February 2020
Wet and Windy again
RushyOnly 12 Bewicks on site this morning including Turlough mother of 4 who is looking increasingly ill. This represents an incredibly early departure no doubt a result of a mild winter and climate change.Check out later in the day the Redshank and Ruff
15 February 2020
Calm before the storm
This morning we are down to 15 Bewick's Swans, including two families. Will they make a break for it before the weather arrives tomorrow?
14 February 2020
Male Marsh Harrier
Our Guide in the Hide, Roberta, picked out a male Marsh Harrier over the north of the reserve this afternoon.
13 February 2020
Shoveler show
Northern Shoveler flocks are brilliant at the moment, good numbers have been gathering on the South Lake and Tack Piece with close views from the Discovery and Hogarth Hides and the Robbie Garnett hide in particular. During gales they may be sheltering fr
12 February 2020
Dumbles floods for our Catch the Tide Event and another Kittiwake flock
The Catch the Tide Event was well attended and provided a good test for the new Estuary Tower. Once away it was a very windy day which no doubt helped to push the tide up a bit higher. It flooded across the Dumbles pushing the Curlew flock, Shelduck and S
11 February 2020
February WeBS Count whilst Storm Ciara blows through
c75 Kittiwake were milling about the estuary after peak high tide today.The February Wetland Bird Survey was fairly challenging in gale force winds and horizontal rain yesterday (Sunday 9th February), many birds were sheltering behind hedges, banks and bu
10 February 2020
Whitefronts on show
Estuary TowerNice to see the whole Whitefronted Goose flock close on the Dumbles after flushing from the South Finger. Ideal counting conditions found 128 birds including the 2 juvenile Greenland Whitefronts. There was a pair of Cranes (Ruby and her wild
8 February 2020
Another cold start
Not quite as cold as yesterday and thankfully no fog to hinder the morning's hide rounds.
7 February 2020
Fog and ice to start
It has been a frozen and foggy start to the morning but the weather has cleared to reveal a glorious winter day bathed in sunshine and blue skies
6 February 2020