Third Dumbles flood of the week
Once again today the high tide flooded the Dumbles today, the feeding bonanza was attracting many of the Tack Piece birds. Large flocks of Wigeon were grazing areas they don't noramlly use with flocks of Teal and Pintail among them. At times the Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwits flocks were feeding here as well.
We took advantage of quieter Tack Piece to lower the blackthorn scrub below the Estuary Tower. It was falling over onto the path after gales, it's been cut at chest height to regenerate and hopefully grow stronger with the advantage of better views across the Dumbles from the indoor viewing section of the hide. We also planted some hawthorn trees to attract passerines, it should act as a migrant trap and also feed winter thrushes as well as roost sites for our resident small birds.
Other sightings today included.
11 Bewick's Swans still on site although ten attempted to leave this morning but aborted migration. Two Whooper Swans remain.
Estuary Tower
Scandinavian Rock Pipit again in front of Estuary Tower at high tide, plus Grey Plover & Ringed Plover. Great Crested Grebe on the river too. 2 Avocet, 200+ Black-tailed Godwit, 80 Dunlin, 20+ Curlew, a few hundred Wigeon.
South Lake from Hogarth Hide
112 Avocet, 35 Black-tailed Godwit + Teal and Shoveler on the scrape, Cetti's Warbler , Pink Footed Goose, 22 Shoveler.
Kingfisher Hide
Three Kingfisher, Little Grebe and two Buzzard.
Tack Piece
Two Snipe from Martin Smith Hide, 15 Curlew, 18 Redshank, 5 Ruff, 2 Dunlin, 60 Black-tailed Godwit and 500+ Wigeon, also Pintail, Pochard, Tufted Duck and Teal on the floods and scrape + breeding plumage Great Egret with plumes. A Little-ringed Plover was calling this afternoon.
Rushy Hide/Peng Observatory
Spotted Redshank on the lower pond. Dwindling duck numbers but a couple of hundred still present. Pintail, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Teal, Shelduck + mating/displaying Black-headed Gulls.
