Today's sightings- rising tides, perfect scrape levels and lots of birds!
Tides- We have a series of very high tides daily until the end of the weekend which should, at times flood onto the Dumbles. This will bring estuary birds to the scrapes. We have managed our marshes and scrapes so they have exposed mud, this is ideal for migrant waders. Some waders have already come in to roost on the 'lowered' islands on the scrape near the Holden Tower but the Top New Piece seems to be the favourite spot for the small waders. South Lake is also very good for wading birds particularly the larger species. Rushy and Tack Piece are also worth a try as anything can drop in. Day totals of 13 Little Stint (all together) and 9 Curlew Sandpiper are very notable.
All following sightings between 0730-0930
Holden Tower
Flocks of waders as tides rose, all moved off.
Curlew 70
Gull flock roosting on the grassy area (five species of gull)
Little Egret 6
Grey Heron 2
Golden Plover 10
Wheatear 1
Zeiss Hide/Top New Piece
Turnstone 1 juv
Sanderling 1 juv
Dunlin 139
Ringed Plover 20
Little Stint 13 ( 1adult and 12 juvs)
Curlew Sandpiper 6 juveniles- these move between other scrapes
Spotted Redshank 1 adult- also feeds on South Lake
Snipe 1
Teal 400
Wigeon 30
Marsh Harrier- adult female drifted S past on a hunting foray
South Lake
Ruff 12
Curlew Sandpiper 8
Redshank 68
Black-tailed Godwit 59
Green Sandpiper 1
Lapwing 436
Tack Piece
Green Sandpiper 2
Teal 26
