Today's sightings
Bewick's Swans
At least 83 were present at the Rushy Pen roost early this morning, all the swans went out onto the reserve and estuary during the morning. This afternoon 79 were sleeping on the Dumbles with a further 7 on the Tack Piece making the total 86 for the site.
European White-fronted Geese
The flock appeared from the northern part of the reserve this morning with 45 choosing to drop into the Tack Piece where they remained for the day. Small numbers were also seen on the estuary and on the Bottom New Piece from Kingfisher Hide but moved off elsewhere during the day.
Lapwing
2777 counted from the hides mid morning, the flock can be highly mobile.
Tack Piece
A party of 10/11 Barnacle Geese continue to feed away from the main flock and are often with the White-fronted Geese. It is entirely feasible that these are wanderers from continental flocks rather than from the British naturalized population. Over 200 Greylag were also grazing here this afternoon.
Wader number continue to increase with 147 Curlew, 150+ Black-tailed Godwit, 92 Dunlin, 12 Redshank, 10 Ruff and varying numbers of Lapwing and Golden Plover. 1036 Wigeon and 338 Teal were also on the floods. In addition there were 4 Cranes GCP.
and Bottom New Piece (from Kingfisher Hide)
71 Curlew, the same 10 Ruff, 150+ Black-tailed Godwit, 17 Gadwall and 2 Little Grebe.
Holden Tower
Marsh Harrier-1 hunting every part of the reserve, Peregrine 1, Little Stint 2 among the Dunlin, 1650 Golden Plover including one fully in breeding plumage and a single Grey Plover, 313 on the nearby pools there were Wigeon with 410+ on the estuary, 20 Shoveler, 4 Cranes GCP and Little Egret on the Severn.
Grounds/Matrix
7 Lesser Redpoll feeding near the main path and a Nuthatch seen again near the centre/car park.
