Early morning snow was a surprise as we awoke to this white world. However, an hour later it had all gone! Was it going to be a day of surprises?
The heavy clouds persisted across the estuary throughout the day, but short periods of sunshine enlivened the scene.
Snow not far away!
High water was at 1.10pm today, so, anxious to see if the long- staying Avocet (nearly 5 months now) was still with us, I packed my gear and settled myself on the roadside verge in front of Byers Cottage - the hawthorns here masked my presence from the birds on the incoming tide as their hours of feeding on these winter days are precious. This also afforded me a good view of the saltmarsh and tide's edge - both towards Scargavel Point and the Viaduct bay. I hadn't seen the bird amongst the Oystercatchers here for a few days and wondered if the changeable weather had caused it to move on.
As I arrived, the tide was pushing in at a fair rate and in minutes the mudflats were covered - scooping up the waders in front of it. Flotillas of duck came steaming in also. The Oystercatcher roosts were already starting to form on promontories lining the saltmarsh. Sure enough, the Avocet was with there with them and right in front of me too!
Suddenly, the monosyllabic bark of Barnacles filled the air as a V-formation passed overhead, in a north-easterly direction.
The Avocet settled into its roosting pose, with its bill tucked under its wing.
Shoveler and Pintail sailing in.
Skein of Barnacles flying in a north-eastery direction overhead.
Over an hour later, the Avocet and Oystercatchers were still hunkered down waiting for the mudflats to uncover and feeding to resume. Pintail kept gathering together and floating by in groups - counted 26 of them in all.
As the tide was starting to recede, although slowly, a group of Wigeon which had been pottering around on the edge of the water, decided to fly further out.
Avocet and Oystercatchers patiently waiting for the tide to go out.
Pintails majestically floating by.
Wigeon repositioning themselves.
After another half hour the Avocet started to stir and preen itself.
Showing signs of activity.
Avocet preening.
. . . and having a good stretch - showing off its distinctive black wing markings.
Taking stock of the situation.
Wigeon floating in.
Then slowly winging its way along the marsh from Scargavel Point, came a Little Egret. It would stop every few minutes or so, dropping down into a dub to investigate its contents. As it got nearer to the Oystercatcher roost it took to the air and landed right next to it, seemingly having spotted the Avocet as being an anomaly. It stood there for a short while looking at it and then passed on its way. They seem to be an endlessly curious bird!
Little Egret striding across the saltmarsh.
Little Egret landing near the Oystercatcher roost . . .
. . . and stopping to stare at this unusual bird.
My attention was next drawn to the rather dramatic patches of sunlight now illuminating the Viaduct, when suddenly, in front of my field of view, a Hen Harrier appeared. It swiftly traversed the Marsh to the west of me - putting up all the waders and duck which had been quietly roosting or feeding there. It quickly headed low along the marsh and rounded Scargavel Point - seemingly ignoring those birds in front of it. It probably hoped to surprise an inattentive bird on the tideline beyond.
Female Hen Harrier's sudden appearance . . .
. . . put up the Oystercatchers . . .
. . . and everything else, as it flew swiftly along the marsh.
It had its eye on me though! . . .
. . . as it sloped off towards the Point, paying little attention to the mudflats.
Rounding the corner of the Point.
As the tide was receding quickly now and after this disturbance, all the birds were out on the 'flats. The Oystercatchers still had their heads down, waiting for the mussel scaurs further out on the estuary to be uncovered. However, the Avocet was happy enough to sift through the soft muds on the estuary edge, for insects and small crustaceans.
The Avocet had already started to feed . . .
. . . making its way along the estuary edge . . .
. . . to areas of soft mud.
Now, some 2 hours after high tide, the shallows were beginning to be populated with duck and gulls.
Wigeon and Gulls returning to feed.
'Every day is different here at Campfield. What with the ebb and flow of the tide, changing seasons and weather too - who knows what can be seen if you have time to stop and stare?