A cold start
Another cold start with lots of ice around the reserve, and another big tide on the river forecast to be 10.4m!
An adult Great Crested Grebe was on the deep lake with the over wintering juvenile. A pair of Oystercatcher were on the causeway in front of the Discovery Hide with other waders on the scrape including 450 Lapwing, 84 Dunlin, 3 Ruff and 3 Snipe. Duck numbers included 88 Shelduck, 23 Shoveler, 5 Pintail, 108 Tufted Duck, 12 Pochard and 76 Teal.
Zeiss Hide
A cold start meant a lot of ice here this morning, reducing bird numbers. The Wigeon flock was down to around 250 birds whilst on the ice were 600 Lapwing, 129 Dunlin and 5 Ruff. At least 8 Snipe were also seen.
Robbie Garnett Hide
The Tack Piece was busy with birds including the whole flock of 143 White-fronted Geese near the Holden Tower. At least 498 Golden Plover were on the water's edge amongst the Lapwing flock. Closer to the hide were 12 Redshank hidden with the Teal and Wigeon flock on the scrape.
Willow Hide
Three Water Rail were showing this morning, feeding under the bird feeders.
Holden Tower
At least 5 Redshank were flushed off the lower shelf of the Dumbles by the high tide, but the tide itself failed to reach the full forecast and didn't cover the upper shelf. The vast majority of the Wigeon flock were feeding on the river edge with over 650 counted but more hidden below the upper shelf. A Little Egret flew down river and 18 Great Black-backed Gulls roosted on the Dumbles.
