South shore (Malcolm)
I went out to check the waders on the waterline again, there were c1,500 Knot as I was walking out, but a Peregrine lifted all the small waders and most resettled south of the recording area.
Bar-Tailed Godwit 158 also left quite early in the rising tide.
Dunlin 60
About 500 Knot hung around a while, but they were very nervous and flighty.
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| Heavy hail shower heading my way! Time to head back. |
Jack Snipe 1 lifted from the relatively new section of saltmarsh as the tide reached it, and flew to the ribbon of marsh grass that now extends all the way to Potts Corner.
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| The finger of water on the left is the creek that once defined the southern edge of the saltmarsh. There were just a few ephemeral clumps of marsh grass beyond it. But since they laid a new water pipe a few years ago the mud sunk roughly along its line leaving the water filled dip in the middle of this shot. Somehow, this has protected the marsh grass and samphire between it and the creek and it is now well established. This is where the Jack Snipe lifted from |
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| What mechanism has resulted in this ribbon of marsh grass spreading towards Potts Corner I don't know. But this is where the Jack Snipe landed, the tide wouldn't reach this far today |
Linnet 27
Song Thrush 1
Rock Pipit 1
On/around Red Nab
Shelduck 42
Wigeon 120+
Pale-bellied Brent goose 10
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| All ten Brent in this shot with Shelduck and Wigeon |
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| Heron on Red Nab |
The hail arrived, and it didn't really stop again.
