Wednesday 28 August 2013

Weekend Waders and others

Despite missing three Whinchat, Pintail and Marsh Harrier on the patch over the weekend I saw some good stuff up the coast. At East Chevington on Monday night around 8 with Cain, the north pool was lifting with birds. 200+ Greylags came to roost on the north pool, four Bar-Headed Geese were amongst them. There was no sign of the Spotted Crake but an amazing 49 Ruff were together on the mud. The size difference between the males and females was really noticeable even in the fading light.  Starlings were chattering away from the reeds and a Greenshank also dropped in.  As we were leaving a Tawny Owl flew low over the car near the entrance to the reserve.

Tuesday morning I was back at East Chev with LMcD. The number of Ruff had halved but a Spotted Redshank was now on the mud along with 3 Golden Plover and eight Black-Tailed Godwit. A pair of Great Crested Grebes were also on the north pool and most surprising of all two Fulmar were flying around the north pool before heading back out too sea.
The Spotted Crake did show itself briefly but I couldn't get onto it in time before it crept back into the reeds.

Cresswell Pond held three Spotted Redshanks close to the hide along with a few Greenshank and a Whimbrel was whistling overhead. Also a second year Med Gull landed on the sand bar.

Last night I did the Cormorant count at Blyth Harbout with SH. 134 Cormorants were in the harbour along with 46 Kittiwakes and some Dunlin were amongst the Ringed Plover on the factory roof.

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