Photo diary - 21st (Spring Equinox) to 31st March 2011
Daffodils in hedge bottom along Lonning
Willow coming into bloom
21st March
High Spring tides were flooding the Inner Solway Estuary marshes causing the Barnacle Geese who frequent them, to flight west to the Outer estuary pastures round the Cardurnock Peninsula. They could be viewed from Campfield Marsh, on several consecutive days, flying along the estuary at high tide.
Barnacles flighting along the tideline in small skeins.
Skein after skein stretched out along the Estuary - some over the Campfield Saltmarsh.
A strong westerly was blowing causing some skeins to tuck in above the tideline as they rounded the corner of the marsh to fly directly into the wind.
By this stage several thousand had flown past, probably in the space of an hour.
25th March
Two of the three Little Grebe that had arrived on the Meadow Pools.
Little Grebe amongst the reeds of the Meadow Pools.
Little Grebe can be quite aggressive, even to birds much larger than themselves
In this case though, it was two male Mallards who were squabbling.
The chase went on for a good ten minutes, with them flying back and forth over the Lonning
Moorhen testing the water. The Little Grebe won't be best pleased.
Signs that the Mute Swans had been here overnight.
Meadow Pipit on Saltmarsh shrub
28th March
Pair of Mallard prospecting
Sunset over Criffel
Recent Sightings from Noticeboard
23/3 Ruff, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, Sand Martins
25/3 Saltmarsh: Meadow Pipits, Reed Buntings
Meadow Pool: 3 Little Grebe
Hide Wetland: 4 Black-tailed Godwits
27/3 21 Whooper Swans, also heard overnight.
28/3 Merlin
29/3 Saltmarsh: Wheatear, 2 Black-tailed Godwits