Sightings and news to week ending 27 April
23 April
A few waders about on the estuary but mobile and distant- three Turnstone plus single Sanderling, Little Stint with 17 Ringed Plovers and 130+ Dunlins. Summer Walkway will open by 1 May.
Rushy Hide
A Glossy Ibis was around first thing
Zeiss Hide
Crane sitting on nest, 87 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Spotted Redshank, 10 Avocet, Cetti's Warbler and 8 Gadwall.
Kingfisher Hide
Kingfisher pair actively fishing and feeding young, 1 Little Egret, Sedge and Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting.
Tack Piece
Six Black-tailed Godwit feeding on the central scrape, 2cy Spoonbill was sleeping, Reed and Sedge Warblers, lots of Hirundine activity too. A Swift at midday.
Estuary Tower
Two Lapwing and 1 Curlew feeding on the Dumbles, Skylarks singing.
South Lake
93 Avocet, 25 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Oystercatcher, 16 Tufted Duck, 8 Gadwall, 1 Crane visible.
21 April
Over forty singing male Sedge Warblers (picture by MJM) on site at the moment!
A drizzly start to the week on Easter Monday did little to top up water levels, the long period with no rain is having a negative impact on some of our wetland areas. Hopefully we will get a reprieve and some rain this week. Passage birds still much in evidence and arriving birds are taking up territories. Some highlights follow.
Estuary Tower
Merlin on the Dumbles fence.
Tack Piece
The long staying 2nd calendar year Spoonbill, 4 Greenshank (also visiting the Rushy), 10 Teal, 11 Wigeon, 6 Gadwall, Great Egret, 33 Shoveler, 8m, 5f Tufted Duck + Shelducks, Pied Wagtails and Barnacle Geese. A large gathering of Swallows and Sand Martins feeding over.
Rushy Hide
19 Avocet, 17m, 8f Tufted Duck, pair of Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Teal, pair of Shoveler.
South Lake
Eight Dunlin, 2 Redshank, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 70 Avocet, nesting Crane, 12 male, 9 female Tufted Duck + singing Whitethroat on the scrubby bank near Hogarth Hide.
Top New Piece
Single Ruff, 8 Redshank, 45 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, nesting Crane and Reed Bunting, Sedge and Reed Warblers singing.
