Winter is coming
There is a chill in the air and our first winter arrivals are starting to appear
There is a chill in the air and our first winter arrivals are starting to appear, but thankfully autumn migration is also in full swing with lots to look out for.
Rushy Hide
One of the Spotted Redshank was showing well this morning, swimming around in front of the hide in the deep water searching for food. Also on the lower pond were 15 Redshank, two Snipe, a Green Sandpiper, 77 Black-tailed Godwit including six juveniles and four Avocet. Duck on the upper pond included three Wigeon and 34 Gadwall.
South Lake
The wader scrape this morning held 144 Teal, three Black-tailed Godwit, 15 Shoveler, 13 Ruff including two juveniles, a single Greenshank and Green Sandpiper, 117 Lapwing, and an Avocet. On the upper pond were 19 Gadwall, a Grey Heron, three Cormorant and 36 Tufted Duck.
Estuary Tower
The immature Spoonbill was feeding in reedbed of the Pillbox Pool this morning, sometimes hidden behind the vegetation in the little deep water bay. A Little Egret and juvenile Ruff were also here. Out on the Dumbles were a total of 15 Cranes including pair Cookie & Pepe with their 2 juveniles, and the unringed partner with Ruby.
Middle Point / Summer Walkway
Waders on the river this morning included at least 189 Curlew, a Greenshank, a flock of 80 Dunlin and 25 Ringed Plover with a Little Stint and four Sanderling were close enough to identify, and a further 200+ small waders were to the north. Also of note were two Peregrine, 90 Shelduck, three Pintail, six Wigeon, 11 Teal, a Grey Heron and three Little Egret. A Wheatear was near the Shepherd's Hut.
Martin Smith Hide
The Great Egret was in the reebed pools this morning.
Zeiss Hide
A Spotted Redshank was feeding to the north of the scrape. Also counted were a Greenshank, 704 Teal, 38 Wigeon, two Pintail, eight Shoveler, 45 Lapwing, three Tufted Duck, two Little Grebe and a Kestrel. The Ross's Goose and the Snow Goose x Bar-headed Goose hybrid were with 170 Barnacle Geese.
