Bewick's Swan and White-front fall
A cold clear night with a Northerly airflow led to a frosty morning, many shallow water areas were frozen over first thing. it also meant that conditions were good for migration, we were greeted by singing Bewick's Swans at first light on the Rushy today. We now have five families, this now includes a pair with five young!
Groups of Russian White-fronted Geese also arrived through the morning taking the 'White-front' total to 57. One pair even had eight goslings with them! We hope that this indicates a very good breeding season in the Russian Arctic. Ten of these new arrivals were also logged at Aust near the Severn Bridges at 08:30am heading our way.
Other sightings and highlights included the following.
Tack Piece
Still very busy with Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler and Pintail, hundreds of Dunlin, Golden Plover and Lapwing had a few Black-tailed Godwit and Ruff with them. At least ten Redshank were along the scrape edge.
Top New Piece from Zeiss Hide
A Merlin dashed through to the Dumbles, a few Wigeon, Teal, Pochard on the unfrozen fleet, the flood is covered with ice. The Bittern was seen again around midday, it ate a large fish in view of the hide.
Estuary Tower
Chiffchaff and Great White Egret on the Long Ground Pool. Many of the Canada Geese moved here from the Tack Piece, the Ross's Goose was with the Barnacle Goose flock.
Highlights for yesterday (unable to update yesterday due to web issues)
South Lake
11 Knot on the wader scrape islands this afternoon with 408 Black-tailed Godwit (48 early morning) and 93 Shoveler + the two female Goldeneye still with the diving ducks on deep lake
Tack Piece
Hunting Goshawk created some mayhem as it passed low and slow over the scrape towards the Rushy,440 Wigeon, 320 Teal, 2 Spotted Redshank, 21 Redshank, a few Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit with the Lapwing, 1 Crane.
Estuary Tower
29 Great Black Backed Gull, 57 Curlew in the high tide roost, 7 Skylark, Peregrine. 10 Gadwall on the Long Ground Pool.
Top New Piece
Great White Egret, 20 Dunlin, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, c300 Teal + Sparrowhawk through.
Kingfisher Hide
410 Lapwing, 420 Golden Plover, 120 Dunlin, 6 Ruff, 2 Gadwall + Chiffchaff. Van de Bovenkamp Hide- 2 Little Stint circled low over TNP flood and flew toward estuary
