Latest sightings
Braced for another windy day
Image - Spotted Redshank- MJMAny time spent watching wild birds today highlights how much effort is needed for them to stay on their feet, the very gusty winds (up to 50mph) were certainly challenging.Sightings for today as follows.Tack PieceTwo Common Sa
15 April 2024
Wader passage ticking over
Image- Common Sandpiper- MJMWe have a good variety of wading birds albeit in small numbers about the reserve, a few more passage birds arrived over the weekend. Estuary TowerWhimbrel, 14 Curlew, 4 Lapwing, 7 Avocet Ringed Plover and Great Crested Grebe on
14 April 2024
A few more warblers in and on territory
Image- female Eurasian Teal- MJMReed and Sedge Warblers have certainly increased this week and along with Blackcap have been very noticeable on site today, it could be that they were here and the strong winds dissuaded attempts at singing or they may be g
11 April 2024
Another big tide flooding the Dumbles
Image- Spotted Redshank, Rushy, MJMThe Dumbles and all foreshore areas flooded for the third day in succession on these very high spring tides. It wasn't as windy today so we didn't have the seabirds in our section of the estuary. A frake Common Scoter wa
10 April 2024
The Dumbles floods again on the high and storm driven tides
Image- Sandwich Tern with Black-headed Gulls on South Lake- MJM.A few more windblown Spring passage birds were about today with Sandwich and Arctic Tern noted. The Dumbles completely flooded on the high tides which were no doubt driven higher by the stron
9 April 2024
New migrants in
Image- Wheatear- MJMAn arrival of migrants was very noticeable, perhaps a few firsts of the year among them (in bold).Tack PieceSingle Snipe, Dunlin and Whimbrel, latter also visiting estuary and Dumbles, 11 Redshank, 20+ Wigeon, 30+ Teal, 40+ Shoveler an
8 April 2024
Very Windy April 2024 WeBS Count
Count affected by the very windy weather, notable seabirds blown up the estuary included Kittiwakes and a Guillemot and some gull passage as they headed NE. Notable sightings included a Whimbrel, two Greenshank and a Yellow-legged Gull. Canada Goose115Bar
7 April 2024
First Sedge Warbler of the year
Image- drake Eurasian Shelduck- MJMDeep in one of our reedbeds the first singing Sedge Warbler of the year was heard today, worth listening out near any of the reed bed areas as more will be arriving soon.Avocets also laid their first egg of the breeding
31 March 2024
Merlin on the Dumbles
Image- Willow Warbler in the Blackthorn blossom from Estuary Tower- MJM. Passage migrants continue to call in, although we have wintering birds that visit it's a great time of year to catch a passage Merlin on site. A female on the Dumbles this afternoon
28 March 2024
Bee news
Look out for the BeesThe garden outside the Martin Smith hide, having an abundance of nectar rich spring flowers, is starting to buzz with insect life. Queen Buff-Tailed Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) and Early Bumblebees (Bombus pratorum) have both been
28 March 2024
Wednesday 27 March sightings
Image- Black-headed and Common Gull on South Lake- MJMEstuary TowerTwo Grey Plover, 5 Dunlin and 7 Ringed Plover (Dumbles foreshore), Ringed + 2 Dunlin on the Dumbles pools + 217 R. White-fronted Geese, 70 Meadow Pipit, 2 P. Wagtail, 2 Crane, 39 Shelduck,
27 March 2024
Tuesday 26 March sightings
Tack Piece100 Wigeon, 4 Pintail, 4 Little Egret, 11 Gadwall, 4 Curlew, 32 Teal, + 2 Snipe and Ruff (Martin Smith Hide). Six Golden Plover circled this afternoon.Top New Piece from Zeiss Hide34 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Lapwing, 2 Crane, 2 Oystercatcher, 46 T
26 March 2024
Flurry of Spring migrants
Image of Russian White-fronted Geese over Tack Piece - MJM.Another day with a number of newly arrived spring migrants plus those that are staging here. We still have a few winter visitors on site.Rushy Hide/Peng ObservatoryOur first pair of Garganey for t
25 March 2024
Swallows and other migrants
Image- Avocet from Discovery Hide (MJM).A number of early migrant birds have been noted over the weekend, following Willow Warbler last Thursday 21 March, another was seen and heard 23/24 March, our first Swallow of the year appeared on Friday 22 March, i
24 March 2024
Last Bewick's and the Whooper Swans depart
Further departures from the reserve appears to include the last of our wintering swans, unless they have moved to feed in one of the more hidden fields they have gone. No sign of them on the Tack Piece or Rushy today and this has been very much part of th
21 March 2024