Further departures, very few Lapwing left
In just two short weeks we've seen our Lapwing flock drop from 2600+ to a few hundred, the Tack Piece is typically carpeted with them but we seem to be shifting to to last of the wintering birds and those that remain to breed on the reserve. It won't be too long before tumbling display flights are seen over nesting areas. The Dunlin flock have been superb over the Tack Piece flood, sometimes they are lost among the 1000s of Golden Plover and Lapwing but you cannot fail to pick them out at the moment, the 'sardine bait ball' effect is much in evidence when they fly.
Other highlights today included a hike in Avocet numbers.
South Lake
*Note hide repairs continue here this week*
Now 93 Avocet, 15 Cattle and 26 Little Egrets formed a post-roost gathering, 21m 2f Pochard, 106 Shoveler, 80 Teal, GC Grebe, 40 Tufted Duck, Herring and Black-headed Gulls and 5 Oystercatcher.
Tack Piece
Spotted Redshank, 60 Curlew, 45 Redshank,10 Ruff, 400 Dunlin, 700+ Wigeon. 230+ Russian White-fronted Geese in the NE corner this afternoon with the Barnacle Goose.
Estuary Tower
DB Brent with the Barnacle Geese + Ross's Goose and the hybrid geese, 138 R. White-fronted geese in the Goose House Ground with the single accompanying Barnacle Goose
Top New Piece
400 Teal, 160 Wigeon + Shoveler and Tufted Duck, Marsh Harrier on the TNP/BNP dividing fence + Stonechat.
Rushy Hide
114 Bewick's Swans, 1 Whooper Swan, 31m 6f Pochard, Pink-footed and Lesser White-fronted Goose with the Canada Geese, 60 Tufted Duck, 40 Teal, 40 Pintail.
Kingfisher Hide
Female Kingfisher at the nest bank + 10 Russian White-fronted Geese flew past with c40 Greylag Geese.
Grounds
Siskin flock on the Loopway.
