A windy high tide
Strong winds and a high tide this morning to bring bird into the hides.
Zeiss Hide
A little exposed in the strong winds but 450 Teal sheltering around the edges. Lots of lapwing around the fields with starling and a few Ruff maybe 25 mixed in with them. At best around 90 Dunlin came in and at one time at least 5 Little Stint and reports of a possible Semi Palmated Sandpiper among them. Some 20 Redshank were here and up to 9 Golden Plover. The strong winds brought a few extra Curlew into the fields with 34 here at one point and GBB Gulls were coming a little closer as well making for a good mixed flock of Gulls including Commons and a darked backed Herring type that was probably a hybrid Herring Lesser. The Crane flock (13)dropped back into here about 11.00 when 13 were present. A ettis Warbler was calling
Kingfisher hide
The Barnacle flock was here with the Red Breasted Goose and Lapwing, Starling and Ruff. A Little Grebe was in front of the hide and some Gadwall and Shoveler.
South Lake
Two Spotted Redshank were among 20 Redshank and around 7 Ruff were scattered among the Lapwing. After high tide 25 Dunlin were here and the 180 Black Tailed Godwits were sheltering from the winds.
Holden and Estuary
The high tide forced all the waders into the Top New Piece field in front of the Zeiss hide, only 1 Little Egret but great views of a Marsh Harrier among several hundred wigeon on the estuary. A Peregrine was on the edge of the Dumbles and there was a report of a Common Scotor floating up river and a Dark Bellied Brent Goose flying south.
Rushy
Single Redshank, Ruff and Godwit were among the Teal and 12 Pintail. Grey Wagtail and Little Grebe also here.
