Today's sightings
Rushy Pen
Monty and Sedge (Great Crane Project) pair still nesting on the island on lower pond. The Avocet colony has 9-10 pairs on nests with extra pairs present.
Holden Tower
Cuckoo calling at the south end of the reserve (Kingfisher Hide area) and one arrived from the South, rested on driftwood before flying high across Severn to the Forest of Dean. A Wheatear was on the Dumbles near Middle Point and the same female Marsh Harrier that has been seen around for a few days was hunting here 0800-0815.
Two Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk were also along the fence line, the hedge held a Blackcap and Whitethroat. A Greenshank was heard but not seen.
Tack Piece
A few Avocets were feeding in the scrape and Reed Warblers were singing.
South Lake
On the deep lake the Black-headed Gull has 80+ very active and noisy pairs. The Great Crested Grebes are still present along with a few Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls of varying ages. The wader scrape had 60 Black-tailed Godwit but these birds seem to roost here and feed on the Top New Piece. Oystercatchers are nesting on the hide roofs, GCP Cranes-Bart and Ruby are sitting on the island near to Discovery Hide.
Zeiss Hide (Top and Bottom New Piece aka TNP and BNP)
13 Avocet, 64 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Great Black-backed Gull and the breeding Lapwings were the main highlights. Reed Warblers are singing in the reed bed below the hide.
