Sightings and news to week ending 17 May 2026
Image Shelducks with ducklings
Monday 11 May
Kingfisher update
Both the Kingfisher Hide and Duck Decoy Hides are currently a great place to catch up with activity, regular feeding visits by both pairs of Kingfishers as they feed young in the nest holes.
South Lake
Two 2cy Mediterranean Gulls on the rocks + the busy Black-headed Gull colony, 3 pairs of Oystercatcher, 58 Black-tailed Godwit, a different Spoonbill to the bird that has been around for some time, 50 Avocets, drake Teal with three ducks, a few Shoveler and Gadwall about the scrape. Tufted Ducks on deep lake. Pair of Cranes with single chick from Hogarth Hide, one chicks went missing over the weekend, possibly the result of predation or siblicide. Two Common Sandpipers, Four breeding plumage Cattle Egrets also seen.
Top New Piece
Pair of Teal, 3 drake and female Shoveler, Crane, pair of Oystercatcher, 3 pairs of Redshank, 6 pairs of Avocet.
Tack Piece
Pair of Oystercatcher, drake Wigeon with the Gadwall, 2 pairs of Avocet
Estuary Tower
A Fox was systematically searching for Redshank/Lapwing/Skylark nests on Lower Dumbles, a few Roe Deer were about as well. 10 Cranes viewable (three on Top New Piece at the NE end and seven on the Dumbles), 2 Greenshank were feeding on the far side of Severn in the run-off channel but were flushed by Peregrine or falcon hybrid, the Dark-bellied Brent Goose with again with Canada Geese on foreshore, the Tundra Bean Goose was with Greylags on Dumbles.
Once again, the Bittern flew from the pillbox pool reeds to the Top New Piece ditch and back.
