Hi,
The run of fantastic weather continued for yet another week, however winter wildfowl continued to filter onto the reserve with Wigeon peaking at 249 (Domen Las Hide, 14th) and Pintail 22 (Domen Las Hide, 17th). Teal are now frequent on most of the reserve’s water bodies including birds utilising the pools along the Wetland Trail Boardwalk. As we welcomed the winter visitors it was also a week for making the most of the last of our summer visitors, I did this from the Domen Las Hide where I watched a flock of Swallow and House Martin skilfully skimming low over the water. Another summer visitor the Chiffchaff could be heard emitting small bursts of song from scrub across the reserve.
Pintail numbers continued to build throughout the week. Many Thanks to Laurie Wright for this photograph of a male Pintail in partial eclipse.
Waders on the reserve included, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover (Domen Las Hide, daily), 4x Lapwing (Ynys Feurig Hide, 15th), Dunlin, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, 3x Green Sandpiper (2x Domen Las Hide, 17th and 1x Marion Mawr Hide, regular), 1x Common Sandpiper (Domen Las Hide, daily), Redshank, 1x Greenshank (Domen Las Hide, 15th) and 5x Snipe (Ynys Feurig Hide, 19th).
This Greenshank was sighted from the Domen Las Hide during the week. Many Thanks to Laurie Wright for the photograph.
Raptors were still proactive with a female Sparrowhawk causing a bit of panic amongst the wetland birds in front of the Domen Las Hide (17th), 1x Marsh Harrier (Saltmarsh, daily), 2x Red Kite (Wetland Trail, 15th and 1x over the Visitor Centre, 19th), 1x Kestrel (Ynys Feurig Hide, daily) and 1x Peregrine Falcon (over Visitor Centre, 16th).
Odonata and butterflies continued to be active in good numbers with the Wetland Trail Boardwalk dominating proceedings yet again with, Small Red Damselfly, Emerald Damselfly, Common Darter, Black Darter, Southern Hawker, Small Copper, Speckled Wood and Red Admiral just a few select species sighted in this area.
Other interesting sightings this week included, Kingfisher (2x Domen Las Hide, 1x Marion Mawr Hide and 1x Visitor Centre Pools, regular), Water Rail (heard calling from the Wetland Trail Boardwalk, 17th), 2x Grey Wagtail (Visitor Centre Pools, regular), 350+ Pied Wagtail (Domen Las Hide, 19th) and 2x Wheatear (Saltings Hide, 19th).
Over 300 Barnacle Geese continued to feed on the saltmarsh. Many Thanks to Laurie Wright for the photograph.
Cheers,
Adam