Avocet in two flocks of c.200, 50+ grey plover & several small groups of knot along the parrett on Friday. Small flight of Brent geese came over.
Pectoral Sandpiper still out on the Fenning this pm, although distant. 8 Brent’s now as well - 4 of each phase.
Phil
After I left you at Stert, I popped into Otterhampton to look for Little Stints (there were 3) and saw a message from Rog about a Baird’s Sand there - lucky to see this before flushed by a v.low flying squadron of paragliders, bird may well still be in the area so worth checking the Fenning. Also Curlew Sand & Merlin in the area.
Do you know the legality (or otherwise??) of flying under 400kV power lines - pretty sure its not ok!
Not so many waders around this morning at the NNR but still about 400+ Avocets, 4 Brent Geese and 2 Peregrines.
Stars of the morning were a red-head Red-brested Merganser and a Jack Snipe.
I went to Steart this morning, encouraged by the report from Phil.
Otterhampton. Peregrine on a pylon.
Golden Plover. Several flocks on the Marsh along with many Dunlin, Redshank and Lapwing.
Wall Common. I had to make a big detour towards Stolford to get round the flooded area but then went along the shingle to sit and wait for waders to arrive between 09.00 and 10.30.
I was rewarded with the following. Grey Plover 100+, Dunlins, Knot 50+, amazingly my first for the year. Bar Tailed Godwit 2, Brent Goose 2, Turnstone 1, Curlew and Shelduck in big numbers and at least 20 Little Egrets. Greenfinch, 3 near car park.
Good morning at Steart NNR this morning.
Green Sandpiper, 1
Avocet, 435 (photo count) being coralled and hunted by two Peregrines in the way that dolphins do sardines
Curlew, 661 (photo count)
Bar-tailed godwit, 9
Knot, c.100
Dunlin, c.5,000
Redshank, c.200
Lapwing, c.40
Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 4
Shoveler, 12
Wigeon, c.200
Pintail, 2 f.
Teal, c.50
Grey Heron, 1
Little Egret, 9
Great Black-backed Gull, 51
Sparrowhawk, 1 imm.
Chiffchaff, 2
Long-tailed Tit, c.40 - the most I have ever seen together anywhere. They were around the bushes below the Tower hide and on several occasions made off high towards the Point but returned and eventually flew off in the other direction through the bushes along the river.
Redwing, c.20