Sightings and news to week ending 31 May 2026
Image- mating Oystercatchers in the Rushy (MJM).
Upcoming Events
Wildflower Walks - Wednesday 3 and Friday 5 June
4x4 Photo Safari - Wednesday 17 June
Summer Walkway
We are hoping to open the summer walkway as soon as possible. We are currently monitoring a Crane that has been using the area as a safe place whilst it moults. To reduce stress to this flightless bird and give it space we are delaying opening the path. We will be carrying out essential maintenance when the opportunities arise whilst giving the bird space. Thank you for your understanding.
Sunday 31 May
Pillbox Pool
Bittern sighted a couple of times today
Rushy Hide and Peng Observatory
Two broods of Tufted Duck (10 and 5), brood of Gadwall (10) and brood of Shoveler (7) all on the Lower Pond. 30+ Avocet chicks, numerous broods across the two ponds including a brood of six (pictured MJM). A flock of 63 moulting Gadwall, drake Shoveler, 2cy Mediterranean Gull among Black-headed Gulls.
South Lake
Three Redshank among the 37 Black-tailed Godwits, 87 Avocet with nine on nests. Singing Whitethroat near the Discovery Hide and Sedge Warbler and Cetti's Warbler plus Dunnock singing near Hogarth Hide. Pair of Cranes (Ruby and wild male) with a well grown youngster.
Top New Piece
Pair of Cranes (Oakie and Sherbert) have hatched a chick, it's been for a swim across the scrape with parents but returned to the island. 2m 3f Teal, m Marsh Harrier hunted here today, Cuckoo calling, 88 Gadwall with a mixed brood of 15 with two females near Kingfisher Hide.
Tack Piece
Two Spoonbills but also visiting the Severn. Image (MJM).
Estuary Tower
At least nine Cranes today, Peregrine on the foreshore and a flock of 300 + Sanderling, Ringed Plover and Dunlin on the mud (ebb tide).
Saturday 30 May
Rushy
First Tufted Duckling broods! 9 Avocet chicks, 1 Male Pochard
Top New Piece
Cattle Egrets, Crane on her nest, 39 Shelduck, 65 Gadwall, 8 Teal, Reed & Sedge Warblers singing, Roe Deer on Top and Bottom New Piece
Tack Piece
2 Oystercatcher, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Lapwing, 11 Greater Black-backed Gull, 28 Barnacle Goose, singles of Pochard and Pied Wagtail.
Dumbles
4 Cranes, singles of Wren and Sedge Warbler
Pillbox Pool
Bittern and Juvenile Kingfisher seen from Knott Hide
South Finger
Blackbird chasing a Jay out of willows, alarming, no sign of any Kingfisher activity so far today, Little Grebe, Reed & Cetti’s warblers singing along with Wren and Blackcap seen from Kingfisher Hide
Friday 29 May
Rushy
Cuckoo, 3 broods of 2 Avocet Chicks!
Tack Piece
15 Gadwall, 1 Greenshank, 23 Barnacles Geese, Cetti’s heard, 10 Tufted Duck, 1 male Pochard, 14 Greylag Geese, 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Teal, 4 Shelduck
Dumbles
4 House Martins collecting mud, 3 Shelduck on the scrape
8 unringed Cranes 1 unidentified on Lower Dumbles. Cuckoo (heard), 2 Little Egret, ~100 small waders (too distant to confidently ID), 3 Curlew, Peregrine.
Pillbox Pool
Little Grebe with 3 chicks
South Finger
A little quieter with just a few Reed Warbler singing. Sedge Warbler possibly busy with young. Cuckoo in the Reeds
Kingfisher Hide
Cettis and Reed Warbler.
Top New Piece
62 loafing Gadwall, two pair of Tufted Duck. Crane incubating on island. Cettis Warbler, male Marsh Harrier, Reed Warbler and a Redshank. Roe buck with doe and Kid. In the afternoon an adult Little Gull was spotted on the Tack piece scrape, with great views looking down from Estuary Tower.
South Lake
The Crane pair and chick. Reed Warbler singing at Hogarth hide entrance. 12 Male Tufted Duck. 2 Common Tern, 79 Avocet, 2 Redshank, 27 Black-tailed Godwit seen from Discovery Hide
Thursday 28 May
South Lake
From Hogarth Hide there were 4 Tufted Duck, 6 Gadwall, 2 Shelduck, 6 Canada, 2 Greylag Geese and a Reed Warbler. Whilst from Discovery Hide there was 1 Ruff, 64 Avocet, 52 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Lapwing, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Grebe, 5 Shoveler, 13 Tufted Duck, 14 Shelduck, 1 Pied Wagtail and a Kingfisher.
Kingfisher Hide
One Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Skylark, 1 Redshank, with 5 Red Kites over the Bottom New Piece.
Top New Piece
From Zeiss Hide there were 3 Reed Warbler, 57 Gadwall, 20 Shelduck, 21 Mallard, 6 Teal, 1 Reed Bunting, 3 Skylark, Crane on Nest, 1 Tufted Duck and 2 Mute Swans with 3 Cygnets. Bittern seen mid-morning, and a Dark-bellied Brent goose too.
Rushy
Three Avocet chicks were seen this morning along with 16 Shelduck ducklings in a mixed brood 'creche' as well as Gadwall, Tufted Duck and sitting Black-headed Gulls.
Estuary Tower
Flock of c592 small waders on the river beyond the Dumbles, mostly Ringed Plover and Dunlin.
Wednesday 27 May
Knott Hide
Juvenile Kingfisher seen practising fishing from the railing and a Little Grebe was spotted at 10:45am.
Top New Piece
Between the scrapes there were 22 Shelduck, 38 Gadwall, 4 Teal, Redshank, 2 Lapwing, Crane on nest, Reed Bunting as well as Sedge and Reed Warbler.
Estuary Tower
Two Common Tern flew over the Long ground Pool first thing this morning.
South Lake
Across the wader scrape and deep lake there were 78 Avocet, 60 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Oystercatcher with 2 Chicks, Cetti's Warbler, Ruff, 8 Shoveler, 17 Tufted Duck, 16 Gadwall and Redshank. At 10:45am a pair of Common Tern were seen investigating the tern raft, likely the pair seen from Estuary Tower first thing.
Dumbles
Two Egyptian Geese on middle scrape island and 6 Cranes.
Tuesday 26 May
Estuary Walkway
Cuckoo heard and Bittern seen flying from in front of Knott Hide to Zeiss Hide
Tack Piece
20 Canada Geese, 28 Barnacle Geese, 13 Greylag Geese, Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 9 Mallard, 15 Tufted Ducks, 1 Coot, 11 Black-headed Gulls
Dumbles
1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 39 Canada Geese, 11 Crane (10 unringed and Oakie), Oystercatcher, Black-headed Gull. Lots of Swallows and Swifts flying around the tower, Sedge Warblers singing
Pillbox Pool
1 Mallard with 2 chicks, 2 Tufted ducks, 1 Moorhen and 1 Coot feeding a chick.
Kingfisher Hide
Juvenile Kingfisher
Decoy
7 Tufted Ducks, 5 Shelduck, 1 Grey Heron
Top New Piece
26 Shelduck, 43 Gadwall, 2 Redshank, 44 Canada geese, (Sherbert) Crane on her nest
Monday 25 May
Tack Piece
Two Reed Warbler, 4 Mute Swan, 25 Greylag Geese, 3 Canada and 13 Barnacle Geese, 6 Shelduck, 18 Tufted Duck, 1 male Pochard, 43 Gadwall, 18 Black-headed Gull, 1 Little Egret and 1 Cattle Egret.
Dumbles
Four Greylag Geese, 55 Canada Geese, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Tufted Duck, 9 Cranes and Skylark singing.
Pill Box Pool
One Bittern, 2 Shelduck, 3 Reed Warbler and 2 Coot.
Decoy Hide
Male Kingfisher seen delivering fish into the nest and a Juvenile Heron too.
South Lake
47 Black-tailed Godwit, 67 Avocet, 1 Redshank, Tufted Duck, Black-headed Gulls and 2 Mute Swan with 2 Cygnets.
Kingfisher Hide
Two Redshank on the Bottom New Piece Scrape.
Top New Piece
One Marsh Harrier, Mute swan with 6 Cygnets, Sedge and Reed Warblers, 4 Lapwing, 8 Redshank, 1 Ruff, 3 Avocet, 5 Teal, Crane on nest and 1 Cuckoo heard.
