Today's sightings-Green winged Teal and amazing birding
Green winged Teal male was on the Tack Piece and Top New Piece today. Viewable from Holden Tower and Robbie Garnett, Stephen Kirk Hides until moving to Zeiss Hide where it roosted for a while eventually flying over the hedge into the Bottom New Piece.
Images by Martin J McGill
Holden Tower- The Dumbles and Tack Piece
Lots of movement of flocks between the two places today. 12-14,000 birds present during the day. Best viewed from any hide overlooking the Tack Piece (Stephen Kirk, Robbie Garnett and Martin Smith Hides) and the Holden Tower. Excellent birding, more rain forecast so is set to get even better. Ideal conditions for New Year birders or anyone year listing, even if it rains the hides will keep you dry. 75-80 species of bird in a day are possible at the moment.
Lapwing 3000
Golden Plover 2000
Black-tailed Godwit 208
Curlew 250
Dunlin 1000
Wigeon 3000
Teal 2000
Ruff 3+
Redshank 35
Little Stint 1 on Dumbles scrape today
Barnacle Goose 160
Bewick's Swan 100+
E. White-fronted Goose 130
Dark-bellied Brent Goose 1
Greylag Goose 250
Canada Goose 280
Shelduck 120
Pintail 140
Shoveler 20
Gadwall 8 with 23 in the Long Ground Pool
Pochard 180
Crane 3 GCP present this afternoon.
South Lake
Lower numbers of birds here due to gales this morning.
Great Crested Grebe 1
Gadwall 11
Crane 3 GCP roosted overnight
Rushy
Less duck present today as they were out on the floods. Bewick's Swan c 120 roosted, they moved out onto the reserve for the day and were late back in. Many fed on the saltmarsh pools on the Dumbles.
