Sightings and news week ending 25 August
Image- Spoonbill from Rushy Hide (MJM)
Thursday 21 August
Black-winged Kite!
What constitutes only the second record for the UK and a first for WWT Slimbridge and Gloucestershire has been on the reserve yesterday evening and again this morning. Best viewed from the Shepherds Hut Hide on the seawall at Middle Point. The bird has been perching on dead branches and hedge tops but also hunting (hovers like a Kestrel) over fields. Views generally distant so far, a telescope is useful.
Rushy Hide/Peng Observatory
A newly arrived juvenile Spotted Redshank plus the two adults in non-breeding plumage, 19 Ruff including a juvenile and reeve in breeding plumage, 12 Lapwing, 21 Redshank, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, 53 Gadwall, 6+ Snipe as well as other species.
Estuary Tower
17 Cranes visible at one point today.
Middle Point
11 GBB Gulls, Turnstone, 3 Sanderlings, 61 Dunlin, Little-ringed Plover with 138 Ringed Plover, 6 Grey Heron and 5 Little Egrets among the species noted.
Top New Piece
Three Spoonbills.
Monday 18 August
Tack Piece
Three Green Sandpiper, 30 Teal, 5 Shoveler.
South Lake
Forty Herring Gulls, 2 Avocet, 3 Green Sandpiper, 2 juvenile Ruff, 100+ Black-tailed Godwit, 60 Gadwall, 4 Cormorant.
Pill Box Pool
Two Snipe, Little Egret, 7 juvenile Black-tailed Godwit. Common Whitethroat and Blackcap from Knott Hide.
Dumbles
Ross's and Snow x Bar-headed Goose with 103 Barnacle Geese + adult Peregrine on the foreshore.
Top New Piece
Two Spoonbill (one flew off), 2 Avocet, juvenile Wood Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, c20 Lapwing, 100+ Teal, 37 Gadwall, 2 Little Grebe.
Decoy Hide
Two Mandarin, 20 Gadwall, 5 Shoveler.
Rushy Hide
Two Spotted Redshank, 10 Ruff, 15 Redshank, 1 Snipe, Great Egret, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper, 4 Shoveler, 11 Sand Martin among the House Martins and Swallows + 73 Gadwall.
