Sightings and news to week ending 11 May
The Brown Hare population has bounced back in recent years, with many mating couples around the reserve it is likely to increase further. These animals can be encountered along the hide pathways and fields. The pair featured in the image were in the Goose House Ground close to the Shepherds Hut hide on 4 May.
Sunday 11 May
Duck Decoy
Pair of Kingfishers now feeding young.
Kingfisher Hide
Pair of Kingfishers still feeding young.
Middle Point
Breezy conditions at Middle Point but the White-spotted Bluethroat showed whilst singing although with a tendency to stay low. The Short-eared Owl was seen again. Out on the estuary, six Ringed Plover and four Dunlin were on the flood tide off the Dumbles, on the low ebb tide a significant insect hatch-off had attracted hundred of gulls, mainly Black-headed and Herring but single Common and 2cy Mediterranean Gull as well. Three Sanderling and single Dunlin and Ringed Plover were noted arriving on the mud.
South Lake
Four Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, pair of Little-ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper among the Avocet colony on the waders scrape, Busy Black-headed Gull colony on deep lake, islands and causeways, two Common Terns flew over toward TNP. A 2cy Mediterranean Gull also seen. Mute Swans with at least three cygnets. Lesser and Common Whitethroat singing near to Hogarth Hide.
Tack Piece
Great Egret, two female Wigeon + a pair or two and spare male Gadwalls on the scrape.
Rushy Hide
Six Avocet nests and 15 Black-headed Gull nests, two drake Shoveler among the ducks present.
Saturday 10 May
Cattle Egrets were feeding among the Longhorn Cattle in the Tin Shed Ground.
Top New Piece
Bittern, pair of Garganey, Red Kite over, two Little-ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper.
Friday 9 May
Hobby over the Rushy.
Female Wheatear at Middle Point.
Top New Piece
Drake Garganey and Greenshank viewable on BNP from Zeiss.
Glossy Ibis, 3 Redshank, 31 Avocet and in the reeds two competing Reed Warbler and a Reed Bunting
Thursday 8 May
South Lake
Crane pair with chick and Avocet chicks.
Wednesday 7 May
Kingfisher Hide
Kingfishers feeding young, two Cuckoos calling, two Kestrels and Buzzard.
Tin Shed Ground
At least six Cattle Egret with Longhorn herd but mobile.
South Lake
Our first Avocet chicks of the year and 38 occupied nests on the islands. Six Black-tailed Godwit.
Middle Point
Male White-spotted Bluethroat continues to sing along with Sedge and Reed Warblers.
Top New Piece
Drake Garganey, two broods of four Lapwing, Wood Sandpiper, Ruff, Glossy Ibis, Greenshank. Three Little Egret over the North (pictured).
Tuesday 6 May
Top New Piece
At least two broods of Lapwing with four chicks each!
Two Bitterns, two Wood Sandpiper, three male and a female Garganey, 13 Teal, 2cy Glossy Ibis, Common Sandpiper, two Greenshank, three Ruff, 10 Redshank, 17 Avocet.
South Finger reedbed and pathway
Numerous singing Reed and a few Sedge Warblers, singing Common Whitethroat, Song Thrush, Cuckoo, Reed Bunting, Blackcaps and Chiffchaff with aberrant song, Kingfisher fishing from the sticks.
South Lake
Up to five Cattle Egret on the causeway, at least three feeding with Longhorn Cattle Herd in the Tin Shed Ground.
Bottom New Piece
Spotted Redshank and two broods of Lapwing with at least a chick each.
Monday 5 May
Rushy Hide
Common Sandpiper and a least 31 Avocet (4 nests), single male Shoveler among the Gadwall, Shelducks, Tufted Ducks and Mallards.
South Lake
At least 109 Avocet (38 nests), 10 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Oystercatcher, 2 drake and single female Teal. 13 Sand Martin and 6 Swallows. Regular fly-pasts by Kingfisher. Little Grebe on the deep lake.
Top New Piece
Four Greenshank and four Ruff (one male), the Spotted Redshank and Wood Sandpiper still but these birds are also visiting the Bottom New Piece flood, the 2cy Glossy Ibis, 15 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 6 Redshank and 2 Lapwing defending against a Fox. Singing Sedge and Reed Warblers. Skylarks over the field and a few Swallows hawking insects. A pair of Cranes early morning but moved to the Dumbles.
Bottom New Piece
A pair of Garganey and a spare male, probably best to try to view from Zeiss Hide. 12 Lapwing on the field with 6 Redshank. Pair of Kingfisher making regular visits to the nest hole with small fish from Kingfisher Hide.
Middle Point
The singing male White-spotted Bluethroat still.
Up to 12 Cranes on the Severn Ground to NE.
