Today's sightings-bouncing Jack Snipe
Zeiss Hide
Water levels have been dropped so that we can access the marsh with a tractor and mower. We will be conducting a spring top of to knock back the hard rush juncus subject to weather conditions this week. This work is best carried out now wintering birds are leaving and prior to breeding birds arriving to settle in.
On the scrape today were 112 Black and 1 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Avocet, 10 Redshank, 120 Lapwing, 30 Golden Plover and 300 Dunlin. Pick of the waders were two bouncing Jack Snipe that were feeding/roosting along the western edge of the flood along with 4 Common Snipe. Small numbers of duck are present with only 40 Wigeon here today. Great Crested Grebe and the family of 4 Bewick's Swans were also seen.
South Lake
12 Avocet and 4 Oystercatcher on the wader scrape as well as a selection of gulls. The deep lake held the usual Grey Heron, Little Grebe, Cormorants and variety of duck including the Pochard flock and a Mandarin.
Rushy Pen
Bewick's Swan- only 18 left here this morning.
Greater Scaup- two first winter females
Although numbers are decreasing as they depart for breeding grounds, it is still possible to see Pochard, Pintail, Shelduck, Tufted Duck, Mallard and a few Greylag Geese at the feeds.
Holden Tower
The White-fronted Goose flock was at the south end of the Dumbles at 0830, at least 80 birds present. 100 Wigeon on the pool adjacent and a Grey Plover came in with a few Golden Plover.
