Sightings and news for 18/19 May 2014-Cranes have hatched!
19 May 2014
Martin Smith Hide
THE CRANES HAVE HATCHED TWO YOUNG, they have left the nest try Crane Cam here
http://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/experience/webcams/slimbridge-rushy-pen/
The Cranes feeding one of the two chicks- Image M.J.McGill
Holden Tower/Middle Point
Lapwing pair with chicks plus other incubating birds on Dumbles.
Oystercatcher nesting
Peregrine 1 out on the estuary
Arctic Tern 1 resting on lump of mud near Middle Point mid-morning, was over N end of reserve later, possibly a sick bird.
Grey Plover 4 including breeding plumaged birds- feeing on mudlflats
Bar-tailed Godwit 2
Dunlin 10
Ringed Plover 30
Sanderling 26
Curlew 1
Shelduck 70 plus brood
Grey Plover image-M.J.McGill
South Lake
Crane pair
Avocet 1
Greenshank 1-mobile bird
Black-tailed Godwit 22
Great Crested Grebe pair plus chick
Oystercatcher 2 pairs, one with 2 chicks
Common Tern 2
Black-headed Gull 40 pairs
Tack Piece/Robbie Garnett Hide
Greenshank 1-mobile bird
Wigeon 1 male
Teal 2
Reed Warbler singing/showing
Zeiss Hide-Bottom/Top New Piece
Avocet 4-5 pairs with chicks
Lapwing 6 -7 pairs with chicks
Teal pair
Gadwall 12
Rushy
Avocets- 2 pairs nest building
Gadwall 13
Car Park
Cuckoo singing in the morning
Also the female Marsh Harrier with short tail has been seen hunting the reserve in the mornings the last two days. It heads inland across the canal in the morning.
Yesterday's highlights included-
22 Sanderling, 34 Ringed Plover, 10 Dunlin and Turnstone on the estuary
Greenshank 2 around the scrapes
Landrover Safaris- 1st summer Mediterranean Gull, Marsh Harrier, 4 Common Tern, Wheatear, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Shoveler, Gadwall, Hobby seen on both, Four spot Chaser and Hairy Dragonflies.
Dawn Chorus event 0430-0715- Cuckoo heard distantly, 12 Blackbird, 7 Wren, 1 Dunnock, 6 Cetti's Warbler, 9 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Reed and Sedge Warbler, House Sparrow all singing. 0500 Crane nest change which as is turns out was also a chick inspection and pair of Kingfishers feeding young. The sunrise was spectacular.
