Sunday 20 October 2024

A day of two halves.......neither good!

A strong SE wind this morning with heavy rain. A strong and freshening SW wind this afternoon with plenty of sunshine.

North shore 
Jean checked the waders roosting on the Heliport 
7800 Oystercatchers
550 Redshank
minimum of 35 Turnstone (many no doubt hidden in between the tightly packed Redshank)
9 Curlew. 

South shore (Malcolm)
I wasn't going to bother till this afternoon, but ended up walking along the wall on the rising tide in the morning rain and again on the ebbing tide late afternoon. 
Linnet 23 around the saltmarsh edge (where these spring tides have deposited the Sea Aster and Samphire seeds)
Rock Pipit 3 - 1 each, saltmarsh, foreshore rocks and Red Nab.

Rock Pipit making a wind assisted jump on the foreshore 

Peregrine Falcon 1 this morning 

Wigeon 84 counted waiting to move to Red Nab this morning, a similar number above the saltmarsh this afternoon.
Wigeon battling against the wind this morning 

Mainly Black-Headed gulls on the outfalls morning and afternoon.
Black-Headed gull in 1st winter plumage 

Mediterranean gull 1 adult was on No.2 outfall briefly this afternoon.
Some of the gulls on No.2 outfall this afternoon.
Mediterranean gull top, right of centre


c50 Cormorants on the wooden jetty this afternoon 

They were difficult to count as they were all hunkered down against the wind.