Latest sightings

Reserve recording area species total

Up to the 30 April were have recorded a total of 160 species of bird within the reserve recording area. No new species for the reserve so far this year but we've plenty of time to add one through the year. Further spring migrants are expected during May a

2 May 2024

Short-eared Owl touring the reserve

Image - Moorhen and Great Egret from Martin Smith HideA Short-eared Owl was spotted at many locations about the reserve today, early morning it was flying south along the Dumbles and later in the day resting on a post on the fence between the Top and Bott

1 May 2024

Curlew Sandpiper on South Lake

Image- Black-headed Gull and Common SandpiperOur first Curlew Sandpiper of the year kept company with four Dunlin on the South Lake wader scrape for a time today.South LakePair of Little-ringed Plover, nesting Cranes, 46 Black-tailed Godwit, 9 Avocet, 4 O

30 April 2024

Whinchat at Middle Point

Image- Marsh Harrier- MJMA noticeable increase in Swallows and Martins with a few Swifts in with them today, a male Whinchat at Middle Point/Tack Piece was also a newly arrived bird. Tack PieceSnow, 18 Barnacle Geese, 18 Shelduck, 23 Mute Swan, Little-rin

29 April 2024

Crane news and Little Gulls

Image- Little Gull over the Tack Piece- MJMVery heavy rain led to rising water levels and a few more migrants about the reserve. Tack PieceTwo adult breeding plumage Little Gull, 2 Common Sandpiper, 7 Dunlin early morning, a single mid morning (probably a

28 April 2024

Summer Walkway and the White-spotted Bluethroat

Image- W.S Bluethroat from a previous year.Summer WalkwayThe wintering birds have all but departed. The reserve team have been busy preparing the Summer Walkway for the 2024 season. Repairs to the path, trimming back vegetation, cleaning the Goose House H

25 April 2024

Brilliant Barwits

Image- Bar-tailed Godwit- stock photoIt's been a great week to catch up with Bar-tailed Godwits, we've seen 100s of them passing through or stopping off for the day to feed, peak count of 155 at any one point, but many more involved as birds move on towar

25 April 2024

Vismig!

Image- Shelduck on Bottom New Piece willow pollards- MJMThe VizMig (visible migration) was notable today, a number of species were recorded moving through the reserve or up the Severn or stopping off to rest, read on for details.Estuary TowerA Swift NE, a

23 April 2024

Red-breasted Mergansers and more

Image- Cuckoo near South Lake- MJMA pair of Red-breasted Merganser were floating on the Severn over high tide, an uncommon visitor here. Estuary TowerWhimbrel with three Curlew on the Dumbles (includes White Flag 28)+ 2 Redshank, male Wheatear at Middle P

22 April 2024

19-21 April roundup

Spring migration has been ticking along nicely, the NE winds led to our first large scale arrival of Bar-tailed Godwits today, just shy of 90 birds about the reserve and estuary today.Sightings for today include the following.South LakeTwo Common Sandpipe

21 April 2024

Latest sightings for 18 April 2024

Our first Cuckoo of 2024 from 16 April, as ever, most welcome.Estuary TowerSix Curlew including a colour ringed bird- Dark green over Yellow R above (Yellow has characters or a code that I couldn't read in the haze), Orange L above. 3 Redshank, 5 Lapwing.

18 April 2024

Braced for another windy day

Image - Spotted Redshank- MJMAny time spent watching wild birds today highlights how much effort is needed for them to stay on their feet, the very gusty winds (up to 50mph) were certainly challenging.Sightings for today as follows.Tack PieceTwo Common Sa

15 April 2024

Wader passage ticking over

Image- Common Sandpiper- MJMWe have a good variety of wading birds albeit in small numbers about the reserve, a few more passage birds arrived over the weekend. Estuary TowerWhimbrel, 14 Curlew, 4 Lapwing, 7 Avocet Ringed Plover and Great Crested Grebe on

14 April 2024

A few more warblers in and on territory

Image- female Eurasian Teal- MJMReed and Sedge Warblers have certainly increased this week and along with Blackcap have been very noticeable on site today, it could be that they were here and the strong winds dissuaded attempts at singing or they may be g

11 April 2024

Another big tide flooding the Dumbles

Image- Spotted Redshank, Rushy, MJMThe Dumbles and all foreshore areas flooded for the third day in succession on these very high spring tides. It wasn't as windy today so we didn't have the seabirds in our section of the estuary. A frake Common Scoter wa

10 April 2024