Last Sunday in January
Some of the highlights from the reserve today included the following
Top New Piece/Zeiss Hide
The drake Green-winged Teal was on the flood with the Eurasian Teal flock, it can roost close in to shore and be hidden by the rushes at times. 160 Wigeon were on the main fleet. A party of 5 Bewick's Swans were present over the late morning/midday period although a group of 5 Whooper Swans were also reported.
South Lake
The Cattle Egret made a few visits today, a male Mandarin was at the South end, Black-tailed Godwits, Teal and Shoveler came and went during the day. Early morning saw 120 Common Gull with Herring and Black-headed Gulls, a few Cormorants and over 100 Pochard on the deep lake.
Tack Piece
Ruff were present early morning but drifted off to feed in other fields, at least 26 Redshank remained with the Lapwing and Dunlin, Curlew numbers reached 127 this morning over the high tide. Golden Plover numbers increased during the day with at least 700 by late afternoon. 610 Wigeon had 40 Teal and a few Shoveler, Pintail and Shelduck for company. A Buzzard or two, flocks of Fieldfare and Redwing were in the hedges. The Black-tailed Godwits dropped in late in the day.
Estuary Tower
Female Marsh Harrier seen over the fields to the N this afternoon. The Russian White-fronted Geese fed in the Ox Piece with 8 Pink-footed and 2 Greenland White-fronted Geese. Note the Ox Piece is the field to NE of the Tack Piece. Lapwing, Dunlin and Golden Plover flocks fed on the Dumbles with up to 410 Wigeon on the scrape. The Severn at high tide held 40 Shoveler, 350 Wigeon, 147 Pintail plus 14 Great Black-backed Gull and 14 Curlew. The flocks of Barnacle and Canada Geese had the Snow x Bar-headed and Bar-headed Goose for company.
Rushy Hide/Peng Observatory
85+ Bewick's Swans at the roost, 60+ had arrived back by 5pm this evening and were complimented with a fly past of two Cranes. The female Goldeneye and Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid were again among the Pochard and Tufted Ducks.
Car Park
Song Thrush singing for much of the day.
