Making hay

The weather has been a little grey, windy and occasionally damp in the last few days, but the farmers are still out making hay when the sun does shine

The weather has been a little grey, windy and occasionally damp in the last few days, although we still need a good few downpours to replenish supplies. The farmers are still out making hay when the sun does shine, and we'll soon be managing some of the smaller areas of species-rich grassland around our hides too.

Zeiss Hide
Hay cut taking place here this morning so some disturbance. A flock of 94 Lapwing and a Yellow Wagtail were along the shoreline.

South Lake
Two broods of Tufted Duck were on the deep lake, along with a juvenile Pochard. At least six Little Ringed Plover were on the wader scrape.

Middle Point
A Grey Plover with some remaining breeding plumage was on the mudflats off Middle Point this morning, along with two Spoonbill and four Little Egret. Across the mudflats north and south of the point were ten Black-tailed Godwit, four more Little Egret, 155 Curlew (including seven colour ringed birds), 49 Dunlin, a flock of 11 Golden Plover, 54 Shelduck (including the unknown Ruddy Shelduck type bird), a flock of 27 Avocet and two Oystercatcher.

Shortly before 9am an unidentified wader flew down river. First thought to be a Turnstone from the dark head and neck, the bird appeared smaller than would be needed for a Turnstone but bigger than a Dunlin. The bird also lacked the distinct white wing bars and back stripe, instead being relatively uniform in brown plumage with narrow white wing bars only. It is believed the bird was a Pectoral Sandpiper, but unless re-found will remain unconfirmed.

Robbie Garnett Hide
Six Green Sandpiper were on the Tack Piece this morning.

Estuary Tower
Two Green Sandpiper were on the Pillbox Pool, and over the seawall on the Dumbles were two pairs of Cranes.

Rushy Hide
The two Spotted Redshank were busy feeding on the lower pond this morning. The roosting flock of Black-tailed Godwit was made up of 407 birds along with 17 Redshank, a Green Sandpiper and nine male Ruff. A new brood of three Mallard ducklings were on the weir, and a singing Greenfinch was in the hedge nearby.


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