Wednesday, 26 December 2018

26th December 2018

Weather: SE   1   vis 5 mls with mist around the estuary.

 At first light 186 Pink-footed Geese flew over from Wales heading NE,
 ........... much later another 6 followed. Brent Geese were counted at 182.
Five Grey Heron roosted over tide with 4 on the north end of Middle and the fifth on Little Eye.
The 74 Turnstone present included a colour ringed bird which has been wintering here for  at least 10 years now. Other waders included a Bar-tailed Godwit, 80 Redshank, 130 Curlew and 7 Purple Sandpiper. 
Three Red-throated Diver and 19 Great Crested Grebe were off the North End with the ever present Eider which seems to have a damaged wing.
A Woodpigeon landed briefly in the pittospurum in the obs garden, 3 Dunnock were present and a Pied Wagtail was at the North End.
It was lovely to see a flock of 16 Linnet arrive to bathe in the trackway puddles, they were joined by 6 Meadow Pipit.
The only mammals seen today were Grey Seals and one had been stranded by the tide by Middle, when disturbed by visitors it laboriously made its way down the Gutter back to the sea.
There was however, evidence of the Fox being active throughout the Christmas period.
photos AS

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