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 their daily routine of late.

Other sightings today included.

Estuary Tower

A pair of Tufted Ducks floated downriver on the ebb tide, Shelduck flock feeding on the mudflats 22 Curlew, 70 Wigeon, 4 Redshank, a few displaying Lapwing and Skylarks + 6 Avocet on the Dumbles. At least five Sand Martin ranging over the area.

South Lake

200 Black-headed Gulls, 3cy Mediterranean Gull, 6 Oystercatcher, Snow Goose, 250+ Black-tailed Godwit, 78 Avocet, 7 Gadwall, 30 Teal.

Top New Piece from Zeiss Hide

Drake Green-winged Teal again late morning, 19 Avocet, 150 Black-tailed Godwit, 90 Wigeon, 20 Teal, 4 Lapwing.

Tack Piece

Adult Spoonbill to early afternoon, best viewed from Robbie Garnett or Martin Smith Hide. Ruff and two Snipe from the latter Hide, two adult Mediterranean Gulls displaying, one with metal ring above and a transmitter pack on back, it would be good to read the ring, light not good enough this morning. 14 Redshank, Avocet, 2, 17 Curlew, 200+ Wigeon

Rushy Hide/Peng Observatory

Spotted Redshank on lower pond.

Kingfisher Hide on Four Score Ground

233 Russian White-fronted Geese and three Barnacle Geese but moved to Tack Piece. Pair of Kingfishers in and out of the nest hole, Little Grebe along channel, flock of Teal in the flood and two pairs of territorial Redshank + a few displaying Lapwing.

• Share this article