Latest sightings
Avocets keep hatching and walking
Holden Tower The Avocet colony is very busy, what is likely to be the fifth brood has hatched today with many more nests yet to hatch. The parents spend a day or two at the scrape then lead the young to nearby scrapes or even the estuary. Lapwing (with br
14 May 2018
Hoopoe!
Hoopoe Whilst walking to start work at the Conservation Breeding Unit, staff member T. Grigg came across a Hoopoe in the car park, it flew off to the north. A subsequent search eventually relocated the bird back in the car park as it fed between the dit
13 May 2018
Kingfishers have hatched
Kingfisher Hide Lots of feeding activity yesterday with tiny fish and insects going into the borrow. Feeding events were roughly every half hour but this should increase dramatically over the next few days. The next two weeks should be a great time to co
12 May 2018
More chicks
Activity at the Kingfisher Hide this morning would suggest that the pair have hatched young. Both the male and female were seen together carrying small fish into the nest hole. Elsewhere on the reserve the first Avocet chicks have now hatched and at l
11 May 2018
The lingering Brent
The Dark-bellied Brent Goose was on the river again this morning, whilst the Egyptian Goose was on the Dumbles with the Greylags. An Osprey was also seen distantly flying up the river mid morning. Robbie Garnett Hide The Tack Piece is a very different p
9 May 2018
Oystercatcher chicks
. Rushy Hide The Lapwing family continues to survive on the wildflower meadow, all three chicks present and correct this morning. A pair of nesting Oystercatcher at least two pairs of Avocet still on nests. The female Wigeon and hybrid male partner. Tack
8 May 2018
Brent still here
Rushy Hide Pair of Oystercatcher, three pairs of Avocet, two male and one female Shoveler, female Wigeon with hybrid male, 15 pairs of Black-headed Gull, pair of Lapwing, 16 Tufted Duck and c20 Shelduck. Tack Piece Pair of Shoveler, 11 Canada Geese, 14 Gr
7 May 2018
Great White Egret
Mid point Summer Walkway Opened for the first time this year, great to be able to get out to the estuary again. Bit quiet for birds but lots of Shelduck a Heron, Reed and Sedge Warbleres anda Wheatear along the Dumbles edge. Holden Tower and Walkway Avoc
5 May 2018
Friday birding
Shelduck (c) Roger Byng South Lake Hides Four Mediterranean Gulls again this morning, although the pair do not look as though they have yet laid any eggs. Also of note were 16 Tufted Duck, an Oystercatcher, 20 Sheld
4 May 2018
More Crane action
Along with our two pairs of Crane on the South Lake and Rushy, another pair were back prospecting the island from the Zeiss Hide. Fingers crossed for another nest here soon. Also of note was a Dark-bellied Brent Goose on the Dumbles, presumably the bi
3 May 2018
A wet start
It was a very wet start this morning with heavy downpours passing up the valley. Many of the birds kept a low profile until the weather cleared and the sun came out for the afternoon. Sedge incubating through the rain
2 May 2018
Today's sightings
Oystercatcher- at least 7 pairs are nesting. Holden Tower 1 Curlew on the spartina island, pair of Peregrine, 8 Lapwing and 75 Avocet on the Dumbles. Rushy Hide Nine pairs of Black-headed Gull are now nesting as well as the Crane pair and three pairs of
1 May 2018
Great White Egret
Drake Shoveler from Discovery Hide South Lake Pair of Shoveler, pair of Teal, 7 Gadwall, pair of Great Crested Grebe, 120 pairs of Black-headed Gull, 84 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 male Ruff, 11 Avocet, pair of Oystercatcher plus broods of Greylag Geese.
30 April 2018
Extra warbler arrivals
Sedge Warbler Migrants At least four Willow Warbler were seen/heard today marking a fall of new birds, as far as I'm aware none have been noted since 23rd April. An increase in singing Sedge Warbler is also of note, 20+ in song today. A walk through surv
29 April 2018
Arctic Tern
Holden Tower and Tack Piece. Several Shoveler and Gadwall pairs, A Common Sandpiper from Robbie Garnett hide. A constant trickle of Swallow, House and Sand Martins drifting northwards and stopping to feed in sheltered spots, about 100 along the Tack Piec
28 April 2018