High tide waders
A reasonably high tide this morning pushed birds off the river and on to the scrapes around the reserve. Highlights included 10 Little Stint and 4 Curlew Sandpiper from the Zeiss Hide and 3 Avocet amongst the Black-headed Gulls on the South Lake.
South Lake Hides
Three Avocet were a nice surprise in the morning sunshine, nestled amongst the flock of Black-headed Gulls. No Mediterranean Gulls yet today. Other waders included 62 Black-tailed Godwit, 15 Redshank, 58 Lapwing, 16 Snipe and a Green Sandpiper was at the Hogarth Hide. Pochard have increased to 17 birds on the deep lake and 2 Little Grebe were also present, and adult and a juvenile.
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Zeiss Hide
Always good with a bigger tide, this morning's 9m+ tide pushed in 10 Little Stint, 4 Curlew Sandpiper and 135 Dunlin. Also present were the Spotted Redshank, 109 Lapwing, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Ruff, 19 Redshank and 3 Little Egret. Another 7 Ruff and 15 Curlew were amongst the Barnacle Goose flock on the Bottom New Piece, viewed from here or the Kingfisher Hide. The Red-breasted Goose was also present. Two Marsh Harriers were quartering over the river shoreline spooking the Wigeon and Shelduck flocks.
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Holden Tower
Two Golden Plover, 3 Ruff and 38 Curlew flew past as the tide came in. A Peregrine was over the Tack Piece and at least 5 Little Egret were on the Dumbles. A Mistle Thrush was also seen.
