Latest sightings
New Whooper Swans and a trio of Goosander
Rushy Hide/Peng ObservatoryThe female Goldeneye remained on the top pond today. Five Whooper Swans flew in to join the 85 Bewick's Swans at 0815am. Also counts of 142 Pochard, 73 Pintail, 127 Shelduck Estuary TowerThree Goosander (male and two females) fl
2 January 2020
New Year's Day 2020
At least 77 species recorded from the hides today.Rushy Hide/Peng ObservatoryThe female Goldeneye remained on the pond for the day. A new single parent Bewick's Swan family arrived today taking the total to 87 on site.Martin Smith HideAt least 7 Snipe on
1 January 2020
73 species of bird on the hide round including Goldeneye!
The last day of the year offered up a couple of scarcer winter visitors, a female Goldeneye materialised among the throng of diving ducks on the Rushy and the Merlin was seen again for the second day running on the Dumbles, this time managing to catch a p
31 December 2019
Two Marsh Harriers
After a rather misty and murky start it transformed into another sunny and mild day with excellent light for viewing. Birds of prey responded with Merlin, Peregrine, Kestrel, a few Buzzards and now two MARSH HARRIERS on the reserve. The latter birds were
30 December 2019
Warm for late December
A very mild and sunny late December day!White-frontsA roaming party of c30 White-fronted Geese were in the Bottom New Piece first thing this morning, thye had a single Egyptian Goose for company, this flock took flight, probably due to activity along the
29 December 2019
Marsh Harrier
Estuary TowerMarsh Harrier to north also 2 buzzards and a kestrel. The pinkfeet were on the lower Dumbles and whitefront flock away to north. There were 230 wigeon close on the Dumbles scrape and 100s more on the estuary with at least 60 pintail, good to
28 December 2019
360 Blackwits
Zeiss HideA magnificent flock of 360 black tailed godwit on the Top New Piece also 430 lapwing, 600 Teal, 47 Wigeon. Very mobile 190 Dunlin and 14 snipe crammed onto a small rushy island at the north end.Tack PieceWigeon 360, whitefront flock (80+) to nor
27 December 2019
Sunny Sunday (at last)
Lots of birds looking great in the sunshineRushy Bewicks 72 overnight now moving into the Tack Piece. Pintail 50 and Pochard 86, a couple of Snipe on the left bank.Zeiss HideProbably the best spot today. The field is full of Lapwing (620), Dunlin 37 a flo
22 December 2019
Golden Plovers in the sunshine
Great to have a little sunshine at last and the birds looking great.Tack PieceA flock of Lapwing and Golden Plover at least a 1000 of each but very mobile with some great aerial views. The 470 Dunlin a handful of Curlew and a single Blackwit were a little
21 December 2019
Todays Sightings
Zeiss HideBlack Tailed Godwits 341Wigeon 67Teal 664Shoveler 5Pintail 11Gadwall 2Snipe 8Lapwing 131Kingfisher Hide - Bottom New PieceDunlin 110Lapwing 323South Lake Discovery HideShoveler 55Pochard 69Tufted Duck 19Snipe 2Cormorant 5Common Gull 2Martin Smit
20 December 2019
Thursday sightings
Rushy Hide68 Bewick's Swans on site today, many left early to feed in the Tack Piece and Goose House Ground. Tack Piece34 Bewick's Swans on the field and flood by 0815am, 170 Canada Geese, 57 Redshank, 18 Ruff including the leg-flag/ringed bird, 22 Shovel
19 December 2019
Bittern reappearance
A cold night led to a dawn frost and iced up ponds, it has been a cold, still morning with sunshine at times which often leads to Bittern sightings. Right on cue, some visiting birders spotted one below the Zeiss Hide in the reeds and rush briefly this mo
18 December 2019
December WeBS Count
The Wetland Bird Survey Count revealed the following totals...153 Mute Swan, 66 Bewick's Swan (Rushy at dawn and dusk and fed in Tack Piece and Goose House Ground),67 Russian White-fronted Goose (Goose House Ground)2 Greenland White-fronted Goose (as abov
15 December 2019
Oystercatcher at high tide
Estuary TowerA dark, dank and damp day may well have been the reason some of the roosting birds were late to leave for feeding grounds. The high tide period this morning was fairly productive with a good roost of 322 Curlew on the Dumbles. A non-breeding
12 December 2019
Midweek update
With a wet and windy week the reserve team have been occupied with fallen trees, we had to shut the Kingfisher Hide to make them safe. The Bottom New Piece has become rather quiet over the last week. the grass has been grazed out and most birds are feedin
11 December 2019