A busy pair of Cuckoo
A male Cuckoo was busy singing and patrolling the South Finger Reedbed this morning, whilst a female was around the settling pond on the look out for nests and giving her own bubbling call
A male Cuckoo was busy singing and patrolling the South Finger Reedbed this morning, whilst a female was around the settling pond on the look out for nests and giving her own bubbling call. This is probably the same pair who were giving great views yesterday along the Summer Walkway, and they are often roving between the area near the Estuary Tower and down to beyond the Kingfisher Hide, including through the Decoy and Canoe Safari.
Middle Point
As the tide was rising visitors reported a Knot, Whimbrel and a Grey Plover, along with a male and female Yellow Wagtail on The Dumbles. Earlier before the bore came through, the pools on the mudflats held the three immature Spoonbills, two Grey Heron and a Little Egret.
Zeiss Hide
A big count of 77 Avocet across the Top New Piece with many looking to nest here having failed elsewhere on the reserve. Also of note were a drake Wigeon and drake Teal, a brood of five growing Shelducklings, a Little Egret flew through possibly on a feeding trip back to the nearby breeding colony, and five Redshank were amongst the waders and ducks on the scrape.
Estuary Tower
The female Crane, Sherbert, was with her two growing chicks towards the south of The Dumbles this morning. Another four Cranes, including her mate Oakie, were sizing each other up towards the scrape. Also in this group of four was Monty, whose mate Evie is incubating a single egg on the scrape island. The two males were keeping visiting pair Cookie and Pepe in check and away from their families. Also on the scrape in front of the hide were three Oystercatcher, 22 adult Avocet with four chicks (a brood of 3 and a single chick) and a Stock Dove flew north.
Martin Smith Hide
A Great Egret and a Little Egret were fishing the pool in front of the hide this morning.
Rushy Hide
The moulting flock of Gadwall has now grown to 66 birds, most of them roosting on the upper pond islands and outside the old InFocus building. At least ten Avocet were counted, and the pair of Little Ringed Plover were displaying and nest scraping again, raising hopes that they'll make a second attempt. Other duck included two drake Shoveler, and a new brood of seven Shelducklings with parents. The Crane family were showing very close to the hide first thing.
South Lake
Only seven adult Avocet now remain here along with four chicks as birds now move to the Top New Piece for a second attempt at breeding. A flock of 62 Black-tailed Godwit were roosting here and a male Little Ringed Plover was feeding along the shoreline. On the deep lake were an adult Little Grebe and a drake Teal. The Crane family were along the back of the wader scrape, also showing well from the Hogarth Hide
