Hi,
Temperatures plummeted as high pressure took charge this week, this led to all of the reserve’s waterbodies freezing over and the wetland birds moving to the estuary in search of open water. The highlight on the main reserve was a 2nd winter Glaucous Gull which roamed the saltmarsh between the Breakwater and Domen Las Hides in search of food.
This Glaucous Gull spent the week searching for food along the estuary (Many Thanks to Tom Kistruck for the photo).
The single Bean Goose and 25 Greenland White-fronted Geese took to grazing just off the reserve where they could be viewed from a public footpath that runs parallel to the Afon Clettwr. The Afon Clettwr also playing host to 2x Water Pipit and 6+ Rock Pipit.
Here are a couple of record photos of the Bean Goose which is the right hand bird in the first photo and central in the second.
It was another great week for raptors on the reserve with the wintering female Hen Harrier spotted from the Domen Las Hide (6th and 8th). A male Sparrowhawk flew past the Ynys Feurig Hide with Starling prey (7th). Kestrel could be seen daily foraging near the Ynys Feurig Hide.
This wing-tagged Red Kite from Wales showed well from the Domen Las Hide during the week.
Other interesting sightings included, 9x Greylag Geese (flew past Marian Mawr Hide, 7th), 2x Goosander (Domen Las Hide, regular), 1x Great Crested Grebe (Breakwater Hide, 4th), 17x Grey Plover (Breakwater Hide, 8th), 2x Knot (Breakwater Hide, 8th), 1x Common Sandpiper (Domen Las Hide, daily) and 11x Snipe (Ynys Feurig Hide, 8th).
Many thanks to Kieth Roberts who did well to capture this otter on camera from the Domen Las Hide.
Cheers,
Adam