Todays sightings
Great birding and in the sun shine
Holden Tower
The Glaucose Gull was re-found some what distantly on the estuary. A female Merlin put in a brief appearance. Waders are still great around 1400 Golden Plover this morning, a total of 2000 Lapwing and around 500 Dunlin among which 2 Little Stint are there to be found. The White-fronted Goose flock is using fields to the north with only 70 birds on the Dumbles but watch out for movements later in the day. The Brent Goose was among the Barnacle Goose Flock. There was a high tide roost of 19 Grey Heron distantly on the banks of the Severn to the south of the Holden, This could well be the highest count of the year presumably a brief gathering prior to nesting. The female Peregrine was on the edge of the Dumbles and two Cranes were on the Top New piece but best viewed from here.
Robbie Garnett
Waders magnificent here as well hundreds of Lapwing, Golden Plover and Dunlin as well as 20 Redshank, 2 Ruff and 12 Black Tailed Godwits. There were 3 Redpoll at the Willow Hide feeding station. Duck number still good; 700 Wigeon and 300 Teal.
South Lake
Having been a little quiet recently it was good to see lots of birds here this morning. Top Bird was a very fine Green Winged Teal with just a few other Teal. The usual Lapwings, 49 Black Tailed Godwit and loads of activity from the 3 pairs of Oystercatcher.
Zeiss Hide
Dominated by the Teal flock, 1100 counted this morning, Black Tailed Godwit also pretty special with 148 some coming into summer plumage and looking great in the sunshine. There are a lot of Shoveler on site at the moment, 42 here and 20 on the South Lake but the main concentrations are on floodwater out of view to the north of the reserve with at least 150 there yesterday. Cettis was singing well in front of the hide.
