Today's sightings
Its been a glorious sunny day for the most part with a continued great selection of birds available, including the three Wood Sandpiper from the Robbie Garnett Hide accompanied by both Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper for comparison.
South Lake Hides
The Black-tailed Godwit flock were tightly packed this morning with 234 birds present. The Redshank and Lapwing numbered 42 and 205 respectively. A Cattle Egret, potentially a different bird from the one a few weeks ago, dropped in briefly around 9am but was gone by 9:30am and may have made its way to the roadside fields where the cattle are now grazing. Nine very different Ruff were present across the scrape along with two Snipe and two Dunlin. A Pochard was on the deep lake with two Little Grebe and at least 92 Gadwall were present between the deep lake and the wader scrape along with 32 Shoveler.
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Zeiss Hide
Today's high tide shortly before 12noon pushed in a few waders but not the variety seen over the last few days. Over 400 Dunlin dropped in and were joined by at least 8 Ringed Plover and briefly a single Sanderling. Nine Black-tailed Godwit also joined the flock whilst out on the river the Curlew roost was disturbed by a hunting Peregrine.
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Holden Tower
A Whinchat was on the fence line at Mid Point. Early morning saw at least 2 Little Egret on the river with around a dozen Curlew. A Peregrine and Kestrel were sat on fence posts along the edge of the Dumbles and three Buzzard were over the spinney near the Zeiss Hide. At least two Yellow Wagtails flew south and several hirundines, a mix of Swallow and Sand Martin, were feeding along the Tack Piece hedge out of the wind.
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Robbie Garnett Hide
All three Wood Sandpiper were present this morning along with 2 Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper. Four juvenile Black-tailed Godwit were also feeding on the scrape.
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