Middleton Nature Reserve
Report by John:
A session ringing this morning, proved less productive, than yesterday.
With only 16 birds being caught. However 5 more Grey Wagtails, added to the nicely growing number caught this year. The catch comprised;
Chiffchaff x 6
Grey Wagtail x 5
Singles of Cetti's Warbler, Meadow Pipit, Robin, Blue Tit and Great Tit.
Only overhead movements observed were two large groups of Pink - footed Geese, totalling around 400.
South shore (Malcolm)
I went to the waterline, out from Ocean Edge, on the rising tide this morning (Malcolm).
Initially there were a lot of waders feeding along the waterline, but I suspected they would soon move on. They did, and long before I reached them.
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| Mainly Knot heading further south |
Minimum numbers along waterline
Oystercatcher 500
Curlew 150
Bar-Tailed Godwit 40
Grey Plover 23
Knot 400
Dunlin 30
This is what moved them on. Not only do these spring tides come in very quickly (the term spring is nothing to do with the season, but spring as in springing forth). there are no waves to speak of in these calm conditions and all the birds in a flock are forced to move on at the same time, often causing them to take flight.
It wasn't coming in quite as quickly as I walk, but not far off, and it caught me up each time I stopped. It was time to stop stopping and keep walking!
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| A group of Grey Plover further up the shore |
Near the saltmarsh
Redshank 26
Lapwing 12
Cetti's warbler singing just south of the caravan park
Skylark 1 in/off
Linnet 22
Wheatear 1
Pied Wagtail 22 on foreshore and Ocean Edge grass
Insects in/off
Migrant Hawker 1
Small White 4
Small Tortoiseshell 2
A walk along the sea wall this evening saw very few insects. The only thing of note was.
Kingfisher 1 - it was fishing from the rails of No.2 outflow, unfortunately with the light behind it.
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| I like the Lesser Black-Backed showing "mild interest" |
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| It's not clear if the Kingfisher is after small live fish in the margins, or the same titbits that the gulls feed on. I suspect the former. |
