Please note: the water will be off in Welly Boot Land on Thursday 2 May, the play area will be open as usual.
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New migrants in
Image- Wheatear- MJMAn arrival of migrants was very noticeable, perhaps a few firsts of the year among them (in bold).Tack PieceSingle Snipe, Dunlin and Whimbrel, latter also visiting estuary and Dumbles, 11 Redshank, 20+ Wigeon, 30+ Teal, 40+ Shoveler an
8 April 2024
Very Windy April 2024 WeBS Count
Count affected by the very windy weather, notable seabirds blown up the estuary included Kittiwakes and a Guillemot and some gull passage as they headed NE. Notable sightings included a Whimbrel, two Greenshank and a Yellow-legged Gull. Canada Goose115Bar
7 April 2024
First Sedge Warbler of the year
Image- drake Eurasian Shelduck- MJMDeep in one of our reedbeds the first singing Sedge Warbler of the year was heard today, worth listening out near any of the reed bed areas as more will be arriving soon.Avocets also laid their first egg of the breeding
31 March 2024
Merlin on the Dumbles
Image- Willow Warbler in the Blackthorn blossom from Estuary Tower- MJM. Passage migrants continue to call in, although we have wintering birds that visit it's a great time of year to catch a passage Merlin on site. A female on the Dumbles this afternoon
28 March 2024
Bee news
Look out for the BeesThe garden outside the Martin Smith hide, having an abundance of nectar rich spring flowers, is starting to buzz with insect life. Queen Buff-Tailed Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) and Early Bumblebees (Bombus pratorum) have both been
28 March 2024
Wednesday 27 March sightings
Image- Black-headed and Common Gull on South Lake- MJMEstuary TowerTwo Grey Plover, 5 Dunlin and 7 Ringed Plover (Dumbles foreshore), Ringed + 2 Dunlin on the Dumbles pools + 217 R. White-fronted Geese, 70 Meadow Pipit, 2 P. Wagtail, 2 Crane, 39 Shelduck,
27 March 2024
Tuesday 26 March sightings
Tack Piece100 Wigeon, 4 Pintail, 4 Little Egret, 11 Gadwall, 4 Curlew, 32 Teal, + 2 Snipe and Ruff (Martin Smith Hide). Six Golden Plover circled this afternoon.Top New Piece from Zeiss Hide34 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Lapwing, 2 Crane, 2 Oystercatcher, 46 T
26 March 2024
Flurry of Spring migrants
Image of Russian White-fronted Geese over Tack Piece - MJM.Another day with a number of newly arrived spring migrants plus those that are staging here. We still have a few winter visitors on site.Rushy Hide/Peng ObservatoryOur first pair of Garganey for t
25 March 2024
Swallows and other migrants
Image- Avocet from Discovery Hide (MJM).A number of early migrant birds have been noted over the weekend, following Willow Warbler last Thursday 21 March, another was seen and heard 23/24 March, our first Swallow of the year appeared on Friday 22 March, i
24 March 2024
Last Bewick's and the Whooper Swans depart
Further departures from the reserve appears to include the last of our wintering swans, unless they have moved to feed in one of the more hidden fields they have gone. No sign of them on the Tack Piece or Rushy today and this has been very much part of th
21 March 2024
Green-winged Teal re-appears
Image- Eurasian Wigeon- departures of this grazing duck this week.The drake Green-winged Teal was relocated today, as expected often hidden in the rushy flood on the Bottom New Piece, a flock of Teal have been feeding and loafing in here but can be hard t
20 March 2024
Four Kingfishers at the nesting bank
The Kingfisher Hide was proving it's very well named with four Kingfishers in view at the same time this morning. We have been watching them fight and chase as the resident pair try to chase off the intruders. To top off the scene this morning the three O
19 March 2024
Little Gull again
The second calendar year Little Gull appeared again today, it was feeding over the Tack Piece with forays to the Rushy this morning. Estuary TowerA smart male Merlin early morning, two Marsh Harriers, 20 Russian White-fronted Geese on Lower Dumbles and 13
18 March 2024
Med Gulls, Green-winged Teal and more
More birds have left but new arrivals are in, read on for the latest sightings.Late news for yesterday included the drake Green-winged Teal on Tack Piece and a 2cy Little Gull and Mediterranean Gull on South LakeTack PieceAt least 38 Sand Martins fed ove
17 March 2024
Only one Bewick's Swan remains
We've almost reached the stage when the last Bewick's Swan leaves, only one was present after ten departed last night. The two Whooper Swans are still on site moving between Rushy and Tack Piece.Other sightings today includedEstuary Tower287 Shelduck feed
14 March 2024