Sightings and reserve work news
Eclipse plumage male Pintail (MJM).
Rushy Hide
Three juvenile Ruff, one Redshank, one Spotted Redshank, 2 Snipe and 70 Teal but these are likely to move to other scrapes whilst the work is carried out. See following note.
*Please note that we are likely to be working in this area over the next week or two to prepare the Rushy Pen for our winter bird visitors (mainly Bewick's Swans and duck species). The final hedge cutting, willow coppicing and pollarding, grass cutting, general repairs to the swan trap, cleaning windows and servicing of the cameras will take place.
We also plan to make further improvements and refurbish some of the islands with a small excavator. One island surface on the top lake is to be stripped and replaced with new gravel and the whole area limed, this is within our usual programme of work to help prevent bird disease risks. If we find time then we'll also carry out repairs to the islands on the lower pond as well as creating a couple of small new islands. It will increase breeding opportunities for some of our birds next year and hopefully encourage a few even closer to the hide.
Completing this work will mean we can then close down the Rushy for the winter (except for wardens feeding) and turn it over to the wintering birds from late October to March and the breeding birds from April to July. The yearly cycle starts again with vegetation cutting work in late June/July to help keep the views open (so visitors can see what is out there) and manage the grassland areas for flora and insects.*
Holden Tower/estuary
The usual Marsh Harrier went through this morning, a large flock of Greylag and Barnacle Geese were on the Dumbles. The two Spoonbills were roosting on a mud shelf with 12 feeding Little Egrets at high tide, also present 2 Little Stint, 5 Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlin and 100+ Curlew. 4 Golden Plover flew over. Two Wheatears were on the fences, see below.
South Lake
5 Ruff, 108 Black-tailed Godwit, 14 Redshank, 4 Snipe, 100 Shoveler, 74 Tufted Duck and 45 Teal.
Zeiss Hide/Top New Piece/Bottom New Piece
2 Snipe, 7 Ruff, 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Little Stint, 1 Dunlin and a Black-tailed Godwit were among the Teal and Wigeon flocks. Two Stonechat, 15 Ruff, a Curlew in and around the Bottom New Piece and 14 Golden Plover over.
