Heliport/Near Naze high water 10:00.
Knot 2,500 roosting. A Peregrine attacked once and took a Dunlin.
Howard Stockdale and Richard du Feu carefully and thoroughly scanned the Knot and managed to identify an incredible 30+ coded birds.
If you ever go here to see the roosting Knot, it is very important to keep your distance and not spook them. Not just so that more coded birds can be seen, but to help the Knot in their constant battle for survival. Spring tides in winter means that their feeding grounds are covered from mid morning to mid afternoon, leaving the Knot very little time to feed up for another long night. When they can't feed, they need to rest to conserve their energy.
I just checked a few locations this morning (Malcolm)
Red Nab towards high water.
Pale-bellied Brent goose 8
Wigeon 150
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| Pale-bellied Brent geese, Oystercatcher and a Bar-Tailed Godwit |
Imperial Rd
Unusually, there were no raptors seen
Teal 11
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| Most of the Teal were on the west side of the road, but this female was on the east side |
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| Not in a large pond, just a puddle in the field |
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| These are the trees where the Rookery was located this spring. Just across the road from the horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall |
Redwing 12 - they were feeding on the ground in the horse paddock, easily visible from the recording area. Then resting in the above trees and the ones flanking the paddock.
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| Redwing |
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| Also a Song Thrush |
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| and a Meadow Pipit |
All the above shots were taken from the edge of the recording area. This clip was actually from the Parish Hall car park. But only as it was a better angle to see the feeding Wood Pigeon and Redwing.
Middleton Nature Reserve
Just a quick look at the two main ponds on my way home. The "no swimming" pond is still 2m above its normal height and deserted.
Main Pond
Mute Sawn Pair plus immature
Mallard 27
Gadwall 17
Tufted Duck 1
Coot 4
Moorhen 2
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| Male Tufted Duck |
