18th - 31st AUGUST
Looking inland across the 'sands' towards Campfield Marsh
18th August
Cold wind from the west today. Wader numbers are starting to build up: predominently Oystercatcher with small numbers of Grey Plover, Black-tailed Godwit and Dunlin. Whimbrel could be heard calling. Norman indicated that there were still 5 Ruff on the floodwater in the meadows left of the Lonning and a Greenshank had joined them. No evidence of the Wood Sandpiper seen there of late, though. The Barn Owl could still be seen regularly hunting along the saltmarsh. Butterflies and Dragonflies were flying on the saltmarsh and on the Lonning trackside, enjoying the afternoon sunshine.
Mixed Waders (mostly Oystercatcher) flying along as the tide comes in.
A detail.
A male Common Darter on the Lonning track.
Black Darters mating.
Female Southern Hawker landed on hawthorn stems and stayed there for quite a few minutes while we observed it.
Male Wall Brown butterfly seen flitting restlessly between Hawkweed flowers amongst vegetation edging the saltmarsh.
Small Copper flying in the same vicinity.
19th August
As the tide came in mid-afternoon, there was plenty of bird activity along the tideline.
Oystercatcher, Golden Plover, Common Gulls and Godwit being pushed in by the racing tide.
Curlew coming in to land.
Oystercatcher flying ahead of the incoming tide.
Flocks of Oystercatchers, other waders and Gulls had been pushed up the 'sands' into the the corner near the viaduct.
Norman had reported the presence of this juvenile Marsh Harrier and sure enough it was still there flying infront of the hide . . . surprising the Teal in the pools along the edge of the Moss.
The chase continued.
Still hunting.
It was most rewarding to be able to watch this bird from the hide for a good half hour, hunting over this stretch of the Reserve.
22nd August
A warm, very still day with intermittent sunshine. At low tide we walked out on the sands down to the tideline which is much further than you would think. We could see waders, gulls and cormorant all feeding along the waters edge. The land seemed to disappear behind us and strange mirage effects were visible on the horizon.
Looking back towards Campfield Marsh. The mudflats are pitted with worm casts indicating the rich pickings to be had for the many birds that frequent them.
Looking across the 'sands' towards Scotland.
Mixed Gulls flying along the tideline.
Waders, Gulls and Cormorant peacefully taking advantage of the warm stillness.
Bay looking west towards Criffell.
Two Herring Gull landing.
Mirage effects observed looking west, due to the refraction of light through different temperature gradients above the 'sands'.
23rd August
Tide stayed well out today. Very few birds about. A brisk walk down the Lonning yielded a number of Green-veined Whites flying.
Ripening barley and seeding thistles in bird seed field.
Sunflower crop well on its way.
Heather in bloom on the Moss.
24th August
A warm humid day in the sunshine. A few Swallows were hawking about. Plenty of Teal on the floodwater down the Lonning. A few waders and gulls on the Estuary.
Flock of Teal taking off from the floodwater (80+)
25th August
A Greenshank and a Spotted Redshank reported on Saltmarsh Pool.
26th August
Cooler northerly winds today. Plenty of waders on the tideline. Reports of Ruff (2), Little Egret, Peregrine and Sparrowhawk from Saltmarsh pool.
27th August
Bright early on but clouded in and rained in the afternoon. Reports of 25 Common Snipe seen on Saltmarsh Pool. Common Darter flying down the Lonning.
Flock of Lapwing (200+) flying over the saltmarsh.
Young visitors to the hide.
28th August
Groups of Oystercatcher could be seen roosting all along the saltmarsh at hightide - probably in the region of 2000, although accurate counting was not possible. Also amongst them were small groups of Grey Plover. 5 Black-tailed Godwit could be seen picking around the tide's edge.
2 of 5 Black-tailed Godwits with a Black-headed Gull.
29th August
Late morning a group of Godwit (mostly Black-tailed) on the incoming tide. Again Oystercatcher were all along the estuary flats. Middayish - Swallows, Larks, Pippits and Martins were seen from the hide, hawking over the wetlands and the Moss. A Kestrel was hunting there too. At 2 pm, on a receding tide, Golden Plover and large groups of Oystercatcher were visible on the saltmarsh. Could hear Whimbrel and Curlew calling too. 7.45pm, a little Egret was spotted flying west along the saltmarsh. Shortly after, a Barn Owl flew east and hunted the marsh near the Viaduct for a good 20 minutes, eventually disappearing into Bowness-on-Solway Nature Reserve.
Young Chiffchaff on fence to Bird Seed field.
Barn Owl hunting along the marsh towards Viaduct, in evening light.
31st August
Male Hen Harrier reported on the Reserve today.
Waders and gulls feeding on the mudflats.
As the tide came racing in and the channel started to fill, birds were taking advantage of the shallow water to bathe in.
After overnight rain this Chaffinch was thoroughly enjoying a good bathe and was not at all put off by our presence on the track nearby.
Green-veined Whites are still to be seen.
Stephen has been cutting the rushes in the wet meadows infront of the hide for a few days now.
Heron dropping in to see what was happening to its hunting ground.
Crows were on the lookout too, from the nearby wood.
Heron eventually headed back to the estuary - presumably to quieter hunting.
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