Caspian Tern visits again
The Caspian Tern has been seen flying north along the canal this morning, and then dropped in on the reserve around 12noon
The Caspian Tern has been seen flying north along the canal this morning, first between Purton and Slimbridge at 7:45am, and then passing Frampton just before 9am. The bird then returned and dropped in on the Top New Piece around 12noon, before moving to the Rushy around 2pm.
The bird has been in the upper part of the estuary for nearly two weeks now, usually seen at Epney. The bird made its first known visit to the reserve on Monday, and was seen again yesterday roosting with the gulls on the Top New Piece, viewed from the Zeiss Hide. The photo above was shared with us on Twitter by Phil Copper, from when the bird was on the reserve yesterday. See the tweet and his other images here.
A few Willow Warbler are calling around the reserve today. These birds will be migrants making their journey south, as they don't breed on the reserve.
Estuary Tower
The two Spoonbill were feeding in low tide pools on the estuary this morning, viewable from the hide.
Zeiss Hide
Two eclipse drake Garganey were on the Top New Piece this morning, along with an eclipse drake Shoveler, 16 Teal, a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, three Redshank, and 24 Dunlin including larger non-breeding plumage bird not to be confused with yesterday's Curlew Sandpiper. Also of note were a Green Sandpiper, a Grey Heron, three Snipe, and three unringed Barnacle Geese.
South Lake
A flock of 68 Gadwall were on the deep lake this morning along with a Little Grebe. An adult and two juvenile Little Ringed Plover were on wader scrape with 16 Pied Wagtail.
Rushy Hide
At least one Spotted Redshank was in the wader flock on the lower pond, the second may well be tucked up behind some vegetation or hidden in the roosting godwit flock. The latter flock numbered 343 birds, along with 28 Redshank, 12 male Ruff, an Avocet and a Green Sandpiper, and three juvenile Grey Heron were also noted.
