Today's sightings-another higher tide pushing waders in to the scrapes
Another good birding day, should be good again tomorrow. Keep an eye out for the Harbour Seal, it was seen at high tide yesterday feeding just off the Dumbles edge.
Zeiss Hide/Top New Piece
Another good high tide period around 0930-1100 today, at least 32 Red Knot (juveniles), 1 Curlew Sandpiper juvenile, 4 Little Stint juveniles, 11 Sanderling (1 adult, 10 juveniles), 10 Greenshank, 1 Turnstone juvenile, Spotted Redshank juvenile, Green Sandpiper, 200+ Dunlin, 150 Ringed Plover, 30 Redshank, 40 Black-tailed Godwit, 80 Lapwing and 20 Ruff were present. 250 Teal, 30 Shoveler, 20 Gadwall and 8 Wigeon and a Pintail were all loafing. Two Sparrowhawk and juvenile Marsh Harrier (a second older and very scruffy bird still on site) both repeat visited causing short-term panic to the birds.
Three juvenile Arctic Terns appeared over the estuary at 0935 but drifted off, at least 90 Curlew were forced to sit out the tide in a specially prepared roost area for them on the Dumbles edge, they were viewable from the Zeiss Hide too.
South Lake
Being used as an alternative day roost and feeding spot for the majority of Redshank/Black-tailed Godwits although they also visit the above site. 4 Ruff, 5 Avocet, 15 Red Knot (all juveniles, so all sporting grey plumage with a peach wash). Also hosing large flocks of Greylag and duck species, Cormorants, Great Crested and Little Grebes.
Rushy Pen
Green Sandpipers, Greenshank and Ruff all seen here today.
Holden Tower/Knott Hide
Whinchat, 2 Wheatear and 4 Yellow Wagtail noted today. The weather at 0800 was too poor to see much on the hide round but has been good for warblers in recent days, Lesser and Common Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap all seen.
Middle Point
Good wader watching in the last few days about an hour or two after the high tide, birds move back up the estuary to the best mud.
