Today's sightings
A dry start with showers forecast later in the day. The Green Sandpiper was still on the Tack Piece along with two almost fully grown Lapwing chicks. The reserve is filling up with new life including lots of Shelduck ducklings now starting to emerge.
Rushy Hide
At least two Avocet chicks were present this morning, one nearly fully grown and another with some way still to go. Seven adults were with them, including one on the new nest on the upper pond. The flock of Black-tailed Godwits that have taken to sitting just in front of the hide were 41 strong this morning, and hidden amongst them and the Black-headed Gulls was a second-summer Mediterranean Gull. The Oystercatcher was feeding a chick near the hide.
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Robbie Garnett Hide
The Green Sandpiper was feeding on the edge of the island in front of the hide along with two nearly fully grown Lapwing chicks, one of which was extremely close to the hide. At least six Avocet chicks were with three adults down the channel, which look like a brood of four and a brood of two. A Peregrine made two half-hearted stoops at a passing Wood Pigeon and then a pair of Shelduck, but both were unsuccessful.
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South Lake Hides
Our Cranes are still incubating in front of the Hogarth Hide - Bart took full advantage this morning of the dry weather to have a stretch. On the wader scrape were 52 Avocet including at least 9 chicks and 2 birds still incubating replacement clutches. A small flock of 32 Black-tailed Godwits were on the duck marsh from the Hogarth Hide along with a pair of Oystercatchers with a single chick and 48 Gadwall, many of which are now starting to moult and are moving to eclipse plumage. A Great Crested Grebe was on the deep lake where many of the Black-headed Gull chicks are now starting to venture off the islands.
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Holden Tower
Reasonably quiet out on the Dumbles with the high tide not pushing many birds around. Afterall, it is June. A total of 27 Shelduck were on the river along with a group of Great Black-backed Gulls and a few Herring Gulls. At least two Skylark were seen and a Jay was in the hedgerow near the Long Ground Pool.
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Zeiss Hide
Quiet again on the Top and Bottom New Piece fields with only 68 Shelduck and a small number of Tufted Duck, Mallard and Shoveler for company. Around 100 Swallows and House Martins were feeding over the scrape with 20 Swifts. A Reed Warbler was singing from the reedbed.
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Kingfisher Hide
We believe the pair are now beginning their second brood so activity is likely to reduce for the next few weeks until they hatch. Keep an eye on the sightings and our Twitter feed for the latest information. See our tweets on @slimbridge_wild here.
