First singing Chiffchaff
The first singing Chiffchaff of the year was heard this morning near the Greater Flamingo exhibit.
The first singing Chiffchaff of the year was heard this morning near the Greater Flamingo exhibit.
South Lake
The drake Goldeneye was on back on the deep lake this lunchtime whilst the Cattle Egret also made a reappearance and was with Little Egret for comparison roosting in trees to left hand side of Discovery Hide. Birds counted this morning included 414 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 pairs of Oystercatcher, 10 Redshank, 19 Avocet and a single Knot on the wader scrape along with totals of 144 Teal, 116 Shoveler, 2 pairs of Gadwall and 3 Wigeon across the wader scrape and duck marsh. A male Reed Bunting was singing near the Hogarth Hide.
Estuary Tower
The flock of 127 White-fronted Geese were on the Dumbles this morning, showing well in the sunshine. The flock was still present this afternoon, joined by a good number of Ruff, Redshank and Wigeon around the Dumbles scrape. Other birds noted during the hide round included an adult Peregrine, a pair of Oystercatcher chasing the Curlews, four Avocet, 165 Wigeon plus a few Shoveler on the scrape, and a few territorial male Lapwing displaying.
Zeiss Hide
A pair of Oystercatcher were on one of the islands, feeding in the water were 16 Avocet whilst other counts included 266 Wigeon, 28 Curlew, 68 Dunlin, 2 Buzzard, 63 Shelduck, a pair of Water Rail in the reedbed below the hide and a singing Reed Bunting here too.
Kingfisher Hide
The female Kingfisher was sat outside nest hole this morning, and later the pair were seen. Also this morning a female Goshawk tried a smash-and-grab barrel-roll raid on the Teal - failed, so went after a Wood Pigeon towards the Zeiss Hide instead.
Rushy Hide
No sign of the Bewick's Swan (Navalny) this morning, but 15 Avocet, 70+ Pintail and 50+ Pochard present.
Robbie Garnett Hide
A Snipe was from the Martin Smith Hide. On the Tack Piece were 610 Wigeon, a Little Egret on the flood, two Avocet, four Oystercatcher, 46 Curlew, 22 Ruff, 39 Redshank, two Black-tailed Godwit, two Buzzard (including the pale bird), 27 Shoveler, 8 Pintail and 80 Teal.
Willow Hide
A single Water Rail was under the feeder this morning.
