15th January.
Still staying cold after a night frost. Sun shone most of the day. The high tide at 3.45pm brought groups of duck close in to the shore: Wigeon, Pintail(21), Mallard, Goosander(7). Wader roosts of Oystercatchers and Dunlin with a few Grey Plover were equally dramatic. From the Reserve entrance could see a large Oystercatcher roost on the shoreline in front of the lay-by near Maryland farm. A good smattering of Curlew were roosting there too. Aerial displays of Dunlin continued along the saltmarsh until well after high tide.
Stephen, Campfield's estate worker, recorded having seen some 40 Whooper Swans on the wetlands in front of the hide this morning, while he was checking the sheep in an adjacent field. Also, he noted that the Hen Harrier had been keeping an eye on the bird seed crop field, south of Rogersceugh.
Snow on the Scottish hills across the Solway - after a very cold night.
Pintail sailing by at high tide, Scargavel Point.
Mallard sitting out the tide.
Goosander, Pintail and Dunlin.
Oystercatcher and Mallard at high tide.
Pintail and Dunlin flock enjoying the evening sunlight.
Grey Plover and Dunlin.
One of the many Dunlin aerial displays.
16th January.
A hard frost overnight which stayed until it snowed at about 1.30pm. Wind stepped up with the incoming afternoon tide and several flights of Barnacles, heading west, battled their way through it.
LOGBOOK
Comment: P Dewhurst - Lovely visitor attraction. Keep going with developments.
COL - Female Hen Harrier at Rogersceugh.
Barnacles flying low over the water to minimise the force of the wind.
17th January.
Continued snowing overnight. Temperature remained around freezing so we were greeted to a still and sunny white world this morning. Wildlife still had to feed, so there was plenty of evidence of their activities throughout the day.
LOGBOOK SIGHTINGS
COL - Two Yellowhammers in Discovery field.
RDC - 2 to 3pm, 33 Fieldfare
Awoke to a snowy world.
Snowy scene.
Campfield Marsh this morning.
Skein of Barnacles catching the sunrise.
Robin always brings a bit of cheer to the scene..
Squirrel romping in the snow.
Great Spotted Woodpecker looks quite grubby against the snow. Something to do with its use of an old nest perhaps!
Male Brambling near roadside feeders.
Female Brambling.
Female Brambling and male Chaffinch for comparison.
Christmas wreath still going strong. Refurbished, I might add!
Squirrel raiding the feeders.
One of a number of browner Male Blackbirds which arrived today - possibly migrants from N Europe.
18th January.
A quiet day with hazy sunshine. A slow thaw took place.
Today four Brambling were using the garden feeding station: three males and a female. They particulary liked the roadside feeders and the sunflower seed hearts.
Male Bramblings on roadside feeders . . .
. . . and enjoying the sunflower hearts.
Song Thrush taking advantage of the thawing ground.
19th January.
A hazy day with Shelduck on the mudflats. A group of 28 Curlew have been frequenting the tideline early morning at high tide.
Shelduck feeding.
20th January.
With the hazy dawn, hundreds of waders and duck could be seen out on the mudflats: Oystercatchers, Dunlin, Avocet, Pintail, Teal, Wigeon, Mallard and Shoveler. As the tide came in, they were pushed up onto the saltmarsh.
Misty dawn on the estuary as the tide came in . . .
. . . and Dunlin and Oystercatchers were pushed in with it.
Mallard out on a sandbank.
Wigeon and Dunlin also.
Little Egret on the saltmarsh showing its elegant plumes.
21st January.
Hazy conditions continue. High tide at 8.47am. At 10.22am, as tide goes out, there is a good collection of duck and waders on the mudflats - with the Avocet amongst them.
M Lincoln - Avocet from road high tide with Oystercatchers.
Collection in the bay west of the viaduct.
Spot the Avocet? (Click image to enlarge.)
There it is!
Dunlin, Grey Plover and Oystercatchers on the high tideline.
Dunlin aerial display.
22nd January.
A milder day with plenty of sunshine and some rain.
A regular early morning visitor to the roadside feeders is the Grey Squirrel. It usually manages to get into the Squirrel proof feeders and is very agile at gliding around the bushes and trees along the hedgeside.
About midday a flock of about 40 Barnacles could be seen grazing on the saltmarsh near Biglands lay-by. As the tide went out and uncovered the mudflats, birds started to return to feed - amongst them was the Avocet and five Goosanders
Taking the 'Squirrel-proof Feeder' challenge!
Ah! Something easier perhaps?
Barnacles near Biglands lay-by.
Avocet with Oystercatchers on the saltmarsh edge and five Goosanders on the mudflats.
Goosander close up.
Goosanders flying off.
Large group of Oystercatchers flying by . . .
. . . and Pintail flying with them