Well, perhaps not the most auspicious start given it was overcast with drizzle and visibility down to 150 m. at times! But, of course, all that can be good for birds, so onward.
Down through the farm to the coast with various waders on the north Field wetlands ( Greenshank, Curlew, Redshank, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit and overflying Curlew and Whimbrel ) A couple of Sparrowhawk found the Linnet flocks of interest and numbers of passerines were feeding on the field edge with Beacon Lane ( Blackbird (15+) Song Thrush, a Wheatear, several Dunnock besides the Linnet parties ). Unfortunately visibility over the sea was virtually non-existent although odd Sandwich Tern could be heard on the move. Around 700 Starling were strung out along telephone wires as well as numbers of Woodpigeon.
Back for breakfast with the weather now gradually improving. A knock on the door revealed a wee lad whose bridge camera almost engulfed him ! "Is this the Rose-coloured Starling" he enquired politely. And it was, taken through his bedroom window a few minutes previously. He then proceeded to say it had moved on to wires just outside the farm and there it was showing well. Sadly I didn't get his name ( I hope he reads this somehow and gets in touch ) as he's certainly a future if he keeps involved as his knowledge and photographic skills were first class. Eight years old with class shots of Little Stint, Greenshank and more !
After a quick visit to Patrington I spent a time at Sammy's Point but nothing particularly of interest was present. then on to Kilnsea Wetlands where a variety of waders was in evidence including Little Stint and Greenshank. A Brent Goose, several Mediterranean Gulls and 8 Little Egrets were present and increasing numbers of Redshank as the tide started to rise on the Humber, besides duch and an ever changing assemblage of gulls.
Finally, a seawatch to round off the day. A couple of Arctic Skua, 2 Sanderling , a Bar-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher and Common and Sandwich Tern moving south plus a few Gannet and a Fulmar north provided a nice variety. The observatory "seawatch count team" had had 542 Oysercatcher move through during the day and 790 Common and 97 Sandwich Tern during the evening roost movement.
Not a bad start!
No comments:
Post a Comment