Sightings and news to week ending 11 October 2026

Image- Cattle Egrets- MJM

Upcoming Events

Guided Birdwatch Walk 28 October

Optics Days 1 November and 6 December 2026

Birding for Beginners 25 November 

Guided Birdwatch Walk 26 November

Seasonal habitat work, essential maintenance and farming

*Please note that you may encounter farming activity, seasonal habitat management, infrastructure maintenance or  survey work around the reserve. This can include the use of machinery. We typically work in one area at a time with a large team to get the job done quickly and safely. We manage the other wetland areas to offer a quiet place to feed and rest, short-term localised disturbance is possible. Our birds simply move to another spot for a time and return once we finish, the first phase of work in the Rushy led to outstanding views of waders on the Tack Piece.

It's important to allow quiet during the evenings and very early mornings when birds are roosting so most work is carried out when a full team is on site between 0800-1630hrs. This work is essential for biodiversity and the annual cycle of the reserve and also to keep the place operational, pumps, filter, pipes and much more need attention. This work also allows us to keep views open to our scrapes and lakes following the breeding season. 

*Note that we intend to work on the Rushy this coming week, work begins on Tuesday 6 October to Thursday 8 October. We will also be working in the Rushy area from 19 to 23 October. 

Greater Flamingo on the River Severn

A second calendar year greater flamingo has been sighted on the River Severn close to WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre. Identified by her green ring ‘LHH’, the young female flamingo belongs to Birdland Park and Gardens, in Bourton-on-the-Water, from where she has recently taken flight and become separated from her flock. Working closely with our colleagues at Birdland, we are monitoring her movements and keeping them updated. She currently appears healthy, coping well and not causing a disturbance to other birds.

Big Tides

Don't miss the upcoming big tides over the weekend and early next week from  10 to 12 October. The tides coincide with the monthly WeBS count on Sunday, you may see the Land rover on the Dumbles/seawall as we count the birds. 

WeBS Count

Saturday 10 October

Mid Point 08.30

165 Curlew, 250+ Dunlin, 27 Greater Black-backed Gull, 8 Cormorant, 5 Skylark, 2 Little Egret, 3 sanderling, 8 ringed plover, 1 bar-tailed godwit, Barnacle Goose flock, singles of Peregrine Falcon and Grey Heron

Tack Piece

5 Snipe, 160 Teal, 82 Wigeon, 8 Shoveler, mixed flock of 200+ Linnet and Goldfinch and 1 Cettis Warbler singing

Rushy

Red kite, 25+ Lapwing, 9 Snipe, 4 Cormorant, 2 Pochard, 6 Redshank, 8 Spotted Redshank, 1 Ruff, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 130 Teal, 1 Greenshank, 1 Little Egret, 1 Great Egret

Top New Piece

70 Teal, 1 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, 2 Golden Plover, 26 Lapwing, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, Cetti’s Warbler heard, 1 Stonechat, 1 Peregrine, 22 Greylag and 48 Canada geese, 2 Dunlin, 1 Little Stint, 18 Lapwing, 1 juvenile Marsh Harrier

Kingfisher Hide

23 Gadwall, Water Rail heard, Goldcrests and Long Tailed Tits along walkway

South Lake

7 Stock Dove, 18 Cattle Egret, 56 Shoveler, 5 Pochard, 5 Tufted Duck, 4 Lapwing, 153 Black-tailed Godwit, Snipe, 172 Black-headed Gulls, 10 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron

Friday 9 October

Rushy

102 Teal, Spotted Redshank, 2 Redshank, a Greenshank, 37 Gadwall, 19 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, Kingfisher and 2 Shelduck. 

Tack Piece 

Fantastic views of c200-300 Linnets, Garganey, 42 Wigeon, 478 Teal, 5 Shoveler and a Pintail.

Dumbles

20 Cranes visible from the Estuary Tower - including a dozen unringed birds, the unringed family of three, one unidentifiable bird, Ruby & unringed mate and Oakie & Sherbert.

A Peregrine, 175 Greylag, 21 Canada & 16 Barnacle Geese, 4 Cormorant, 20 Shelduck and a mixture of Great black-backed, Lesser black-backed & Herring gulls.

Bottom New Piece

Six Cattle Egret which flew off. 

Four Score

Three Ruff feeding amongst a flock of Lapwing. 

Top New Piece

The two pectoral Sandpipers, 68 Common Redshank, 4 Spotted Redshank, a dozen Dunlin, 25 Ruff, 162+ Teal, juvenile Marsh Harrier and 2 Cetti's Warblers. 

South Lake

209 Black-tailed Godwit, a Snipe, 2 Spotted Redshank, 3 Cattle Egret, 266 Teal, 121 Shoveler, 3 Pochard, 30 Gadwall, 24 Pintail, 87 Lapwing and the arrival of 5 Redwing.

Thursday 8 October

Middle Point

Nine Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, 36 Curlew, 12 Little Egret, 21 Great Black-backed Gull with Herring, Lesser BB and Black-headed Gulls, 24 Golden Plover circling, Peregrine Falcon, 2 Stonechat at the point, 5 Reed Bunting on Summer Walkway.

Top New Piece

Two juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper on the mud/vegetated zone of the flood, also Ruff including small juvenile reeves, so beware! Sometimes feeding with the Lapwing. Also Marsh Harrier and Peregrine hunting over. 

Tack Piece

39 Wigeon and 12 Shoveler among the Teal, Snipe and Water Rail.

Rushy Hide/Peng Observatory

*Reminder that a work party will be active here again today* Early morning 3 Spotted Redshank, 20 Black-tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper, 1 Redshank. 

Wednesday 7 October

Rushy Hide/Peng Observatory

See message above, work party here this week. 

Tack Piece

61 Teal, 36 Wigeon, 7 Shoveler and 9 Canada Geese.

Dumbles

Eleven Curlew, adult Peregrine perched on the Lower Dumbles, 63 Greylag Geese, 4 Canada Geese and a Goldcrest directly in front of the Estuary tower.

Middle Point

Six Knot, 8 Dunlin, 9 Ringed Plover, 12 Curlew, 2 Grey Heron, 3 Great Egret, 7 Little Egret, a multitude of Black-headed/ Herring gulls and c150 Canada Geese.

Top New Piece

The Pectoral Sandpiper is still visible from the Zeiss Hide amongst 16 Ruff, 6 Snipe, 258 Teal, 8 Wigeon and a Marsh Harrier. 

South Lake

182 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Ruff, 2 Spotted Redshank, Redshank, 2 Little Grebe, 78 Shoveler and 8 Pochard. 

Tuesday 6 October

Rushy Hide/Peng Observatory

See message above, work party here this week. 

Middle Point

14 Crane, 13 Golden Plover, 18 Grey Plover, 500+ Dunlin, 200+ Avocet, Little Egrets, Grey Herons and five species of gull on the mudflats and channels.

Tack Piece

Juvenile Wood Sandpiper favouring the East shore NE end of scrape, 5 Ruff, Snipe, 2 Green Sandpiper, 12 Wigeon c70 Teal, 200 Linnet on the field.

Martin Smith Hide

Kingfisher using the new perches close to the hide + Snipe.

Top New Piece

Two Spotted Redshank, 4 Snipe, 34 Ruff (but some moved to Tack Piece), 59 Lapwing, GBB Gull, 110 Teal, 7 Pintail, 14 Wigeon.
South Lake- 162 Black-tailed Godwit, 19 Lapwing, 90 Teal, Shoveler and Gadwall, 3 Pochard.

Monday 5 October

Rushy Hide/Peng Observatory

Eight Spotted Redshank, 3 Redshank, Greenshank, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Snipe, 6 Lapwing, Little Grebe, Great Egret, Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler and Mallard.

Tack Piece

Juvenile Wood Sandpiper, 7 Ruff at the NE end of the scrape, 22 Wigeon, 70 Teal, 130 Linnet.

Martin Smith Hide

Snipe, Kingfisher, 8 Teal. 

Dumbles

13 Cranes but moved to the Severn, flock of Greylag with two paler/robust individuals, Barnacle and Canada Geese, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits, Curlew and Peregrine. 

Middle Point

Marsh Harrier (pictured MJM), 560 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plover, 14 Grey Plover, 5 Golden Plover, 1 Knot, 1 Ruff, 2 Siskins over SW, 5 Reed Buntings, flocks of Curlew Shelducks, Avocets plus Grey Herons and Little Egrets.

Top New Piece

16 Ruff, 2 Spotted Redshank, 32 Lapwing, 90 Teal, 7 Wigeon. Hobby past the hide, also flew over Rushy. 

South Lake

Knot, 90 Black-tailed Godwit, 130 Teal, 8 Cormorants, Little Grebe, Tufted Ducks.