15th - 23rd November 2011
15th November
Cold light easterly wind with misty sunshine. As the tide came in a group of 13 Shoveler crossed the channel in front of the hamlet. A flock of Dunlin landed on the sandbar on the other side. A Reed Bunting showed up on the marsh edge hawthorn bushes and a single Lesser Redpoll was feeding on hamlet garden niger seed.
Shoveler on incoming tide.
Reed Bunting on hawthorns.
Lesser Redpoll on garden niger seed.
16th November.
A beautiful sunny day although with a cold easterly wind. at 4.00 pm about 20 Whooper Swans flew across the hamlet from the estuary towards the Reserve wetlands.
17th November.
A milder day with a light southerly wind. Promising early sunshine clouded in about midday. 3 Bullfinches flew ahead of us down the Lonning. As we were watching Mallard and a Little Grebe from the screen overlooking 1st Meadow Pool, a large group of wigeon flew in - there were 6 Pintail with them. We had noted a good collection of Swan's feathers here too, possibly an indicator of Whoopers roosting here overnight. Dave and Stephen could be seen carrying out maintenance work on some trees on the other side of the meadow.
Coming back onto the marsh, two immature Mute Swans flew over and headed inland towards the Reserve wetlands. At 3.15pm, 6 Shelduck and 3 Red-breasted Merganser floated in on the incoming tide.
Mallard on Meadow Pool. Note Swan feathers too.
Little Grebe also.
Flock of Wigeon, having just landed. Pintail can be seen at the far side.
Stephen and Dave carrying out essential maintenance.
Immature Mute Swans flying in from estuary.
18th November.
Southerly winds today. At 10.46 am the Great White Egret had been seen on the marsh. 1.00pm. a small flock of Barnacles (about 50) flew along the marsh from the direction of Cardurnock. They circled several times and then landed on the mudflats at Scargavel Point. Some grazed on the saltmarsh and whilst others walked along beyond the saltings. After a while they flew off west again.
Mid-afternoon, 28 Shoveler floated in on the tide.
.
Barnacles - just landed on the mudflats.
Some came up onto the marsh to graze.
Small group grazing, probably a family group.
Others walking beyond the saltings.
The first to take off.
In flight.
Skein flying west, from whence they came.
19th November
A perfect windless day with warm sunshine. At midday, a skein of Barnacle geese (134) flying west along the estuary were spooked by a microlite flying towards them. Both managed to miss each other and continued in their respective directions. Walked down the Lonning at about 1 pm. There were two Pintail on floodwater left of the track; a Buzzard in the far hedge west of the Meadow Pools; two immature Mute Swans on 1st Meadow pool and two Bullfinch flying ahead of us down the track. As we came back along the saltmarsh a Grey Heron came in to land. A couple of Birding groups visited today and reported seeing the Great White Egret on the saltmarsh west of Saltmarsh Pool.
Skein of Barnacles flying west.
Male Pintail showing well on floodwater, LHS of track.
Buzzard perched in far hawthorn.
Immature Mute Swans on Meadow Pools.
Heron coming in to land.
20th November.
Day started off with 55 Shelduck dibbling in the channel in the morning sunshine. After lunch, the weather having dulled in somewhat, still got good sightings of the Great White Egret hunting in the dubs way out on the marsh beyond Saltmarsh Pool. Corvids from the nearby roosts, as well as two Heron, kept up a continual pestering barrage. The Egret, however, was not phased.
Shelduck in early morning sunshine.
Great White Egret out on the far marsh.
Corvids on the rampage.
22nd November.
Norman reported 60 Whooper Swans coming in from the south to roost on the floodwater overnight. Apparently Swans had been coming in to roost at dusk, on a regular basis now for the last fortnight.
23rd November.
A fairly brisk SW wind with some rain today. On the high tide at midday, a good collection of waders were showing on the tideline - mostly Oystercatchers and with a few grey waders. A flock of 16 Shoveler presented itself too. Mid-afternoon the two immature Mute Swans were seen on Lonning floodwater with good numbers of Wigeon and Mallard on 1st Meadow Pool. As dusk was falling (3.45pm) the Great White Egret came hunting along the dubs on the marsh round Scargavel Point.
Shoveler flying along tideline.
Great White Egret in dub on saltmarsh.
Landing on the marsh - what a wingspan!
Who's harassing who now?