Today's sightings
Holden Tower
At least 5 Swallow and 2 Sand Martin feeding over Middle Point/Goose House area. A Peregrine on the post along the foreshore. On the Dumbles- 22 Shelduck, 17 Greylag, 19 Canada Geese and 11 male and 6 female Lapwing (4 incubating). On the scrape-20 Avocet, 3 Wigeon, 4 Shoveler and 4 Teal. The pool adjacent had Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal, Little Grebe and 2 Oystercatcher. The hedge and bushes had 2 each of singing Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.
Willow Hide
Chiffchaff and Cetti's Warbler singing
Tack Piece
Oystercatcher and 4 Lapwing with 38 Teal in the scrape with 4 Gadwall, 3 Pintail and 8 Tufted Duck.
South Lake
At least 6 second-summer Mediterranean Gulls among the Black-headed Gull colony and engaged in display as pairs. Small numbers of Teal, Shoveler and Mallard on the wader scrape as well as 1 Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Avocet. A female Lapwing is now incubating eggs at the duck marsh (Hogarth Hide) and 2 Great Crested Grebe are on the deep lake (Discovery Hide).
Second summer or 3cy (third calendar year) Mediterranean Gull- Pic by MJM with fully developed hood, some are just attaining this feature and are showing more extensive white areas on the face and head. As is typical with this age of 'Med Gull' they sport black chevrons in the wingtips but generally have more white than black.
Zeiss Hide
A Snipe and Black-tailed Godwit on the flood (majority of the latter species are feeding in flooded fields during the day). 31 Avocet and 12 Teal were on the flood with a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull feeding with Black-headed Gulls. 4 Wigeon were grazing with 6 pairs of Lapwing (3 female incubating eggs).
