Pale-Bellied Brent Goose 8 - initially seen on the skear at low water in two groups 2 + 6. Later, David Kaye saw 8 flushed by a dog early (13:10) from the children's play area. Shame, that's where the best food currently is.
There were 8 on Red Nab at high water, before 6 flew off south.
As Jean points out, the birds are stressed in this prolonged very cold weather and extra energy expended flying off because of disturbance from off lead dogs causes loss of condition, reducing their breeding success next year or can even affect their survival this winter. Please pass this on to anyone you know who exercises their pets here, or anywhere where birds are feeding or roosting.
These are the group of six choosing to fly from the south side of the skear to the north side, just as the sun was rising. There is little food on either side, so it looks like they were just waiting for the tide to take them to the play area.
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| David's shot of all 8 being prematurely flushed from the play area |
Also on skear:
Pink-Footed goose 8 seeming unsure as to where to go. Came from south, turned west, then back south again.
Eider 34
Red-Breasted Merganser 1
Little Egret just 1
Just single figures each Knot and Dunlin
Ringed Plover 10
Saltmarsh to Red Nab (MD)
Passerines on saltmarsh (excluding the resident Robins, Wrens and Dunnocks)
Blackbird 5
Skylark 1
Song Thrush 1
Reed Bunting 3
Greenfinch 12
Rock Pipit 1
Shelduck 170
Common Snipe 6
Last night's neap tide was not high enough to cover the shore out from the saltmarsh, yesterday's "idyllic" pools were frozen solid, as was the mud. The tide did reach up the creek though, this Curlew marks the extent of last nights tide reach. The straight line shows how flat the sea was.
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| The ice line marks on the creek sides show the extent of last night's tide |
Black-Tailed Godwit 13 - the soft mud they fed in yesterday was soft no more, their only option was to feed in the creek itself.
This afternoon's high water was slightly higher than last night's, so I couldn't resist another quick look at high water. Hoping to see more Godwits, and I was far from disappointed!
Bar-Tailed Godwit 1,200 at least
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| Most of the waders in the water are Bar-Tailed Godwit |
Here are some more coming to join them.
Black-Tailed Godwit 22 - there were at least two resting among the Bar-Tailed
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| The larger bird on the left is one of the resting Black-Tailed Godwits |
Another two were waiting at the creek edge
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| Black-Tailed Godwit - the setting sun giving their normally greyish winter plumage a warm glow, reminiscent of summer plumage |
As soon as the ebbing tide started to reveal the newly thawed shore, they were quickly joined by Redshank, Knot and Dunlin.
A little earlier 18 had flown over to the north
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| Black-Tailed Godwit |
Lapwing c100
Redshank c50
Dunlin c250
Knot c400
Grey Plover 5
I managed to leave without spooking any of them, which pleased me. But they were much more interested in finding food than worrying about me. Hope they all have enough fuel to keep them warm enough to survive through another freezing night!
