Sightings and news to week ending 18 May
Avocets began to hatch on the South Lake last week, the usual territorial arguments occur with regular disputes between Shelducks and Avocets (picture- MJM) noted. Carrion Crows have been repeatedly trying their luck with a robust response from the tight knit colony, a few chicks have already been predated, despite this we hope the fledging success is high. We have around 35 nests yet to hatch. Another six Avocet nests are situated on the Rushy among 15 nesting Black-headed Gulls.
Sunday 18 May
Decoy Hide
Kingfishers are visiting to feed young regularly.
Middle Point
The male White-spotted Bluethroat continues to sing. Short-eared Owl again hunting the seawall.
Top New Piece
Two Spoonbill, Common Sandpiper, pair of Teal, 21 Gadwall, 8 Redshank, a brood of four Lapwing, a Curlew Sandpiper reported early afternoon.
South Lake
Little-ringed Plover and two Black-tailed Godwits among the nesting Avocets and Oystercatchers.
Saturday 17 May
Kingfisher Hide
Gadwall pair, Tufted Duck pair plus one female, male and female Kingfishers went into nest but without fish. Female looking at a fresh hole to left.
Top New Piece from Zeiss Hide
Shelduck 63, Shoveler 5, Avocet 4, Gadwall 23, Spoonbill 2, Redshank 1, Oystercatcher 2, Song Thrush just outside the hide shelling a snail for breakfast.
Friday 16 May
Van de Bovenkamp Hide
Two Cattle Egret with the Longhorns on Tin Shed Ground
Wednesday 14 May
Decoy Hide
Kingfishers feeding young.
Kingfisher Hide
Kingfishers feeding young, Sedge and Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat
Middle Point from Shepherds Hut
Male White-spotted Bluethroat showing well despite the strong breeze. See link for information.
https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/slimbridge/...
South Lake
85 Avocet, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 16 Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, Crane family
Top New Piece from Zeiss Hide
Single Glossy Ibis, 8 Redshank, 16 Avocet, 2 Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, 16 Gadwall and a Cuckoo.
Estuary Tower
Peregrine, five Ringed Plover and 2 Sanderling on the Severn from Estuary Tower.
Tuesday 13 May
Middle Point
Three Black Terns fed over the Severn at 1700hrs
Rushy
Two Black Terns flew through East at 0954hrs, the first of 2025.
South Lake
Two Little ringed Plover, two Cattle Egret, 2 Common Sandpipers.
South Finger and Grounds
Cuckoo singing but mobile between tallest treetops. Five Reed Warbler singing in the Matrix and Goldcrest singing at the Otter enclosure and South Finger gate.
Duck Decoy
Kingfishers feeding young and resting on branch outside of the nest hole.
South Lake
Redshank, Little-ringed Plover and two Black-tailed Godwits on the scrape among the dominating Avocets, one pair of Oystercatchers have at least two chicks, the pair of Cranes have one chick, 28 male and 10 female Tufted Ducks, two drake Shoveler and a few Gadwall as well as three broods of Mallards.
Top New Piece
Glossy Ibis again today. Two broods of Mallards, two broods of Lapwing, 8 Redshank, a pair of Teal, two drake Shoveler.
Bottom New Piece
Brood of Mallard with nine ducklings.
Middle Point
Late news for yesterday- the Short-eared Owl was hunting the saltmarsh and seawall late afternoon and mid-morning and seen again this morning.
The male White-spotted Bluethroat still singing along with Reed and Sedge Warblers and Reed Buntings. Six Sanderling on the flood tide and a Turnstone past with 5 Grey Plover. Eleven Bar-tailed Godwit on the mud on the ebb tide.
