Today's sightings
It feels like we've had a mini clear out with numbers of all species not quite what they have been over the last week. Just one Wood Sandpiper was on the Tack Piece this morning, although a second bird yesterday did disappear down the back channel so more than one may be around today. Let us know what you see!
South Lake Hides
Black-tailed Godwit were down to 188 birds this morning, with drops in the number of Redshank to 32, Ruff to 6 and Lapwing to 128. Its likely the birds are still in the area, perhaps making use of the lower tides allowing them to stay on the river longer. A pair of Little Grebe were on the deep lake with 2 eclipse Wigeon, 60+ Gadwall and 29 Shoveler.
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Robbie Garnett Hide
Just the one Wood Sandpiper so far today with 5 Green Sandpiper around the scrape. Two Redshank were present early morning but then flew to the Rushy. A small group of 18 Teal were the only other birds of note.
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Rushy Hide
Two juvenile Little-ringed Plover were flitting between the islands on the upper and lower pond, seemingly irritating the Lapwing who would continually move them on. A single Green Sandpiper was at the back of the lower pond with 16 Black-tailed Godwit. A cluster of hirundines were feeding low over the upper pond, mainly made up of 30 Sand Martin, 20 Swallow and a few House Martin which are breeding on the Scott House.
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Zeiss Hide
The tides are gradually dropping but we still except a few hundred waders to drop in around lunchtime. This morning's highlights included a Common Sandpiper on the island amongst a small flock of Lapwing, four Black-tailed Godwit feeding in the scrape and a single Green Sandpiper on the Bottom New Piece. A Crane (Squidgy) was also in the Bottom New Piece field. A Kingfisher flew past heading south and a Cetti's Warbler was calling from the reeds along the seawall.