An early November Photo Diary
Area round Saltmarsh Pool where the Great White Egret has installed itself
1st November
A beautiful sunny windless day with first record of Great White Egret seen on the Reserve at Saltmarsh Pool.
2nd November
Cool and breezy. 10.45 - 12.00 am, Great White Egret again reported. This time remarkably well hidden in the rushes but spent some time west of Saltmarsh Pool, after being chased by a Heron. Also 2 Crossbills over. Good flocks of waders off Scargavel Point as tide came in about 15.00, including a small flock of Black-tailed Godwits.
3rd November
A mild calm sunny morning. 10.30 - 12.15am - we watched the Great White Egret for the duration. Two Heron were harassing it but to little avail. It proceeded to move across the Pool, successfully catching small items at regular intervals. It herded the numerous Snipe, from the reeds they were inhabiting there too.
See full account and video from previous blog - link: http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/campfieldmarsh/b/campfieldmarsh-blog/archive/2011/11/04/great-white-egret-on-saltmarsh-pool-campfield-marsh-3-rd-november-2011.aspx
Later in the day two groups of birders reported seeing a Sabines Gull flying across the road from the estuary, onto the fields near the Lonning entrance.
In recent weeks flocks of Barnacles have been seen flying up and down the estuary (and over the Saltmarsh here too). We decided to have a look round the Cardurnock Peninsula to see were they were grazing. Between 1.30 - 2.15 we found a group of about 500, including 4 leucistics, on the Anthorn Marsh - which were able to video from the roadside.
4th November.
A hazy and very dark day with heavy cumulus clouds over the estuary. Great White Egret again reported at 11.00am, with a comment that it appeared to be roosting overnight on the Saltmarsh west of the Pool. At 14.30 there were 70 Shelduck on the mudflats near the channel, off Scargavel Point.
Illuminated Cumulus clouds at sunset.
5th November
After thick early morning mist the day transformed to a beautiful sunny afternoon. Red Admirals and Whites were still flying. A Willow Tit was seen feeding on hamlet seed feeders. Low tide at 13.30 brought 87 Shelduck to the tideline.
6th November
Misty all day. A trek down the Lonning early afternoon produced a solitary Coot on the 1st Meadow Pool and a pair of Bullfinches flying ahead of us along the track. The mist produced some quite dramatic atmospheric effects. As the tide came in late afternoon the mist cleared to give a bright frosty moonlight night.
Lonning in mist
Looking west across the wet meadows.
The farm home meadow.
The road and saltmarsh.
Not a great day for birdwatching!
7th November.
Great White Egret reported on Saltmarsh Pool together with 25 Snipe.
8th November.
Fairly chilly and misty most of the day but warmer than yesterday. Good viewings of Great White Egret reported about midday. Walked along the marsh ourselves after lunch. Heron seen fishing in the dubs and on Saltmarsh Pool there were a good collection of wildfowl: a Red-breasted Merganser, numerous Wigeon, Teal and Snipe, as well as Lapwing.
Glory beams as the sun broke through.
A good mixture of wildfowl on the Pool.
Male Red-breasted Merganser.
Wigeon coming in to land.
9th November.
An overcast but warmer day. An early morning record of the Great White Egret on Saltmarsh Pool. We also saw it at 15.10, feedng in dubs round Scargavel Point and moving on eastwards along the Saltmarsh, feeding as it went.
10th November.
Started as a hazy mild morning which cleared as the tide came in at midday. Gulls were in their element hawking for insects over the Estuary. The sun came out early afternoon producing a perfect Autumn day. 28 Shoveler floated out mid-channel with the tide. The Great White Egret was reported as being on the Saltmarsh Pool at 13.00. Later on at 14.00 , 5 Whoopers flew past on the tideline, going east.
11th November.
A dry cooler overcast day. Early morning, a few Barnacle skeins could be seen flying east along the estuary. At 10.45hrs, there was a report of the Great White Egret on the marsh. At high tide, about 12.30, 4 Shoveler were noted on the high tideline together with a Cormorant drying out its wings.
Small skein of Barnacles, off Scargavel point.
Cormorant drying its wings, escorted by local Crows.
12th November.
A cooler day with hazy sunshine. Lots of birdwatchers out, presumably looking for reported unconfirmed sighting of a Surf Scoter. High tide, produced flocks of Oystercatcher and grey waders along the tideline and in the bay near the Viaduct.. Reports of Great White Egret on Saltmarsh Pool; Pintail, Shoveler and 40 Grey Plover near the Viaduct: a male Hen Harrier over the back of the wood on the wetland.
13th November.
Easterly winds today. At 9.15 hrs Great White Egret was seen picking its way along the dubs near Scargavel Point and then flying eastwards towards the Viaduct.
Great White Egret flying along the saltmarsh towards the Viaduct.
Great White Egret flying into the bay near the Viaduct.
Waning moon over the Reserve.
Recent sightings from the Noticeboard.