Having had a few dull and damp days recently, today dawned bright and sunny. However the incoming tide before lunch brought with it its usual shower. Not deterred, we set off down the Lonning and were gratified to see the sun struggling through. We had a quick look through the screen overlooking the meadows to the left, to see that tremendous progress had been made yesterday by the workparty on cutting back the hedge which divided the two fields. Stephen has been working on this during the weeks in between their visits, and together they were all making great inroads into the 'Breeding Wader habitat project' - see later report.
Next stop were the Meadow Pools. A good flock of Wigeon with some Teal and a few Mallard, were basking on the banks in the, now, full sunshine. As we reached the Hide we could see the usual good numbers of duck (Teal, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler and Pintail) on the wetland in front of the wood. Teal figures during the month had peaked at 2990, Dave had reported. A solitary Whooper Swan was with them, resting with its head tucked under its wing, It has been on the Reserve now for a good many weeks and sometimes makes an attempt to fly off with the other Whoopers, who can be heard roosting there at night. But whether it is injured or ill - who can say! - it, however, does not manage to fly more than from one pool to another.
Looking across towards the Moss from the hide, three diggers could be seen glinting in the sunlight, as they worked away. The Workparty have, in previous months, being engaged in scrub clearance work in areas on the Moss where there had been encroachment which all serves take up moisture, much needed to maintain a healthy environment for the bog plants.
As we returned, two Buzzards were sighted; one on power lines and the other on a nearby pole to the west of us. As we were watching these, a light plane came droning over and immediately put up a small flock of geese from the estuary which could then be seen flying east towards the inner estuary. Reaching the entrance to the Lonning - it was now late afternoon - a Kestrel came hunting along the top of the marsh, catching the evening sunshine as it went.
The tide by now was well out and parties of Oystercatcher with a number of Curlew and grey waders were spolighted on the mudflats as the sun was setting.
Wigeon enjoying the afternoon sunshine on the Meadow Pools.
Teal on the far bank.
A solitary Whooper with other wildfowl on wetlands towards the wood.
Whooper seen a few days earlier on Meadow Pools nearby.
Diggers out on the Moss as seen from the hide.
Two Buzzards with distant geese.
Kestrel hunting along the saltmarsh.
Rooks at sunset.