High March tides flood the Dumbles
High Tide at the Estuary Tower
The predicted high tide didn't disappoint, it flooded over the Dumbles and covered about 80% of the area, the birds were pushed in closer to the Estuary Tower with a first winter Mediterranean Gull joining the feeding Black-headed and Common Gull flock, 12 GBB Gull came in to roost with a few Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls. 72 Curlew came in with head started birds no. 40 and 63 seen with them. The Skylarks and Lapwing that have spent the last couple of weeks setting up a territories were rather disgruntled by the flooding and were forced to move. Two Raven called in. 50+ Shelduck and 7 Oystercatcher were also counted.
Tack Piece
161 Barnacle Geese were joined by 60+ Russian White-fronted Geese, 11 Mute Swan, 29 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher and 85 Wigeon.
South Lake
The female Goldeneye, 74 Avocet, 379 Black-tailed Godwit including a colour ringed bird (please read and report if you see it) and 3 Redshank and a Ruff.
WeBS Count on 8 March
140 Mute Swan, 124 Russian White-fronted Geese, 2 Pink-footed Geese, 223 Greylag, 120 Canada Geese, 203 Barnacle Geese, 2 Greenland White-fronted Geese, 366 Shelduck, 1 Egyptian Goose, 1 Mandarin, 619 Wigeon, 36 Gadwall, 199 Teal, 457 Mallard, 67 Pintail, 266 Shoveler, 15 Pochard, 302 Tufted Duck, 2 Goldeneye, 4 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 17 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 1 Cattle Egret, 7 Grey Heron, 20 Oystecatcher, 81 Avocet, 14 Lapwing, 63 Dunlin, 55 Redshank, 435 Black-tailed Godwit, 280 Curlew, 2 Snipe, 1 Reeve.
