Wednesday 11 January 2023

More Brents including first Dark-bellied

A fresh west wind blew all day, and miraculously, it remained mainly dry with just a couple of light showers.

South Shore
A morning check of the harbour located 
Kittiwake at least 4 including 2 x 1st winter 
Adult Kittiwake in the harbour 

Female Eider, catching the wind in the harbour mouth

Pete and Jean checked the lunchtime ferry in
Kittiwake 29 - it took a long time counting as they were slow to leave
Unfortunately, the incoming ferry crossed paths with the outgoing StenaLine
Some of its entourage of gulls may have switched allegiance.
Note the lights on the "noon" ferry

Tim Woodward counted 10+ Kittiwake between 15:00 - 16:00

1 managed a walk along the sea wall around lunchtime (MD)
57 Redshank lined up along No.1 outflow

Brent goose 44 Brent arrived at Red Nab at 11:35

But not all Pale-bellied, this Dark-bellied was feeding with them on my return. This is the first record this winter.

In this clip the Brent and Wigeon are feeding on the gutweed as the tide covers the rocks. It starts with a group of Pale-bellied Brent feeding, then focuses on the Dark-bellied Brent goose
Just after this clip they flew off towards the estuary