Today's sightings
The Dumbles and Tack Piece are in full (rain) flood. The birding here today was excellent again with thousands of birds present. During the day the Rushy and South Lake were emptied of dabbling duck, the evenings see the diving duck heading out to the floods to feed. A large flock of 100 Bewick's Swans flew to the estuary this afternoon, presumably the flock were flushed on nearby fields and were relocating.
I managed a high Teal count this afternoon with 2700 counted from the hides, more were hiding in the juncus marshes and we usually have a flock of 500-700 at the N end of the reserve too. I could not get up there to count them but we must have at least 3500 here today.
The Lapwing flock looks good for a large count so hopefully one of the other wardens will get a good total from Boxing day.
Holden Tower
American Green winged Teal-male on the Dumbles scrape with 537 Eurasian Teal.
Golden Plover 750
Lapwing 3000
Dunlin 400
Snipe 1
Black-tailed Godwit 35
Wigeon 600
Bewick's Swan 30
E White-fronted Geese 7
Tack Piece
Hedges and trees
Peregrine 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Buzzard 2
Fieldfare 60
Redwing 30
Bullfinch 2
Greenfinch 1
Redpoll 2
Jay 3
Stock Dove 4
Floods
Wigeon 900
Teal 120
Pintail 80
Bewick's Swan 12
Redshank 34
Spotted Redshank 1
Ruff 15
Black-tailed Godwit 80
Dunlin 300
Curlew 90
Little Egret 1
Pochard 80
Pochard x hybrid 1
Zeiss Hide
Teal 1100
Water Rail 1
Shoveler 50
Snipe 2
Martin Smith Hide
Snipe 1
