A dry and largely sunny day after overnight rain. A light southish breeze, very mild again.
North shore (Malcolm) 09:30 - 10:30
A check as the rising tide was covering the skear saw no Shag, Eider, Grebes or Knot
Red-Breasted Merganser 2
 |
| Male Red-breasted Merganser |
 |
| These are the Brent geese looking from Knowlys Rd as I was heading home |
 |
| I don't know if everyone has a favourite moon phase name. Perhaps not. But I do, and this is it. A waning gibbous. Although I do like the name, this phase indicates that we are past the peak of spring tides and are moving back to neap tides, which tend to provide fewer viewing options. So my actual favourite phase it its opposite, a waxing gibbous. |
I checked the Near Naze and Heliport wall both before and after high water. Not a Knot to be seen. Their absence certainly isn't down to the lack of food here, presumably the Peregrine persecution just became too intense. Hopefully the food availability will tempt the Knot back
Imperial Rd (Malcolm) 10:45
Water Rail 3 squealing, but from the edges of the marshy area, the water table is still very high.
Moorhen 1 heard
Teal 2
Grey Heron 2
Kestrel 1
 |
| Female Kestrel |
Stonechat 2 both the Male and the female were feeding, but quite a distance from the road amongst the Reedmace.
 |
| Male Stonechat amongst the Reedmace |
 |
| The female did fly to the fence to have something solid to beat this hairy caterpillar against. |
Red Nab (Janet) just before high water
 |
| Oystercatchers, Turnstone and and Curlew were the only waders |
 |
| Little Egret heading off |
Kingfisher 1 - it flew from the right of me towards the little pool that fills on high tides but then flew back again and looked like it was going to land on the sea wall but I lost where it went, it couldn't go in the freshwater outlet as the tide was up too far!!
