The mid-morning high tide on Monday 3rd brought these brent geese closer to the shore to graze the algae on the mud. The geese and several waders were able to enjoy a deserted beach early in the day before the park got busy with visitors.
Offshore the calm waters revealed an interesting selection of birds on the water. Two red-throated divers, 6 Slavonian grebes, 30 great crested grebes, 3 eider, 4 common scoter, 28 red-breasted mergansers as well as 100 shelduck and a few wigeon. These last few days have brought in a good mix of sea-ducks and grebes and after a quiet start to the winter, it's been nice to see several of them together in the estuary now.
A male marsh harrier flew upriver from Colne Point to Langenhoe, joining 4 other marsh harriers flying about. Fifteen sanderling flew along the shore at high tide and a rock pipit was noted at the Point.
On the park a woodcock was flushed from under the trees along the cliff-top in the morning, 3 fieldfares were noted in hedge near the hide, while beside the pond a snipe fed close-to 2 black-tailed godwits. The main wildfowl on the fields were the 400+ brent geese and 600+ wigeon.
2 comments:
Hi Doug,
I live across the water from you at the marina in Brightlingsea. I work from home and spent hours observing the birds from my window and after spotting a seal outside my window today stumbled upon your blog - and what a treasure it it!
Keep up the great work!
Sounds like you should have a good vantage point over the estuary. There haven't been as many seals seen from this side this winter as in previous winters. Always nice to see.
-Dougal
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