A sea-watch with Ian first thing produced almost nothing only partly ‘saved’ by a male Eider heading east.
Meadow Pipits were singing in the cattle field on the walk to the hides, the Greenshank showed beautifully again in front of DL’O hide and the Black-headed Gulls continued to show interest in the rafts. The count of 24 Oystercatcher on the scrape was my highest yet, perhaps breeding birds returning.
Nearby the four Russian White-fronted Geese and 13 Spoonbill were resting on the water’s edge at JV. There were five Pintail here and another three out on the estuary. I later saw the White-fronts on the fields south-west of the Reedy Ditch layby. Although I’ve seen a few Chiffchaff in the last week today was the first time that I’ve heard one singing.
Oystercatcher photo by Ian Williamson and Chiffchaff
I checked the sea while at the Sailing Club and found a Great Northern Diver loitering further east. Six Bar-tailed Godwits roosted at Inchmery with the Pale-bellied Brent Goose pulling up eelgrass in front of them. The Peregrines were active on the island.
A pair of Goldcrests flitted around the bushes near the cottages with the male flashing his intense orange crown to his partner. At the Reedy Ditch Ian found an Otter spraint, greenish in colour and smelling of jasmine tea! A Pheasant appeared to be playing dead as a Marsh Harrier drifted over.
Patch Birding 