RISING TIDE

The mid-day walk along the Strood seawall on Saturday 8th, coincided with the high tide. The picture above shows the high tide covering most of the saltmarsh along from the Dabchicks Sailing Club. Some of the brent geese can just be seen in the water.

All along the Strood Channel, there were various small flocks of waders and wildfowl to be seen. Small groups of dunlin, redshank and curlew were the main waders seen with one or two oystercatchers.
There were about 400 brent geese feeding in the nearby wheat field before they got disturbed and headed out onto the saltings, where they joined some of the wigeon and teal.

The only small birds of note were 5 reed buntings and a rock pipit seen feeding close to the rising tide-line, presumably searching for seeds or insects pushed up by the tide.

Sadly the old wooden jetty in the background has seen better days.

On a grey, breezy day on the seawall, a little bit of spring was on show with this little cherry-plum / blackthorn bush.