Barnacles flying west past Campfield Marsh.
13th October.
LOGBOOK SIGHTINGS
D B - Rogersceugh arable field, 30 Tree Sparrows and 35 Reed Buntings.
David J - Meadow in front of the hide - male Hen Harrier.
15th October.
A calm colder day with some sunshine. Today's highwater of 9.2m was at 2.10 pm
As the tide started to fill the bay west of the Viaduct, just after 1.30 pm, a multitude of gulls, ducks and waders came flooding into this corner. Quite a sight in the sunshine
The bay west of the viaduct - gulls, duck and waders abound on the incoming tide.
Duck heaven!
Wigeon and Black-headed Gulls on the tideline.
A Grey Plover with gulls at Scargavel Point.
Shoveler float in with the tide.
A walk to the Saltmarsh Pool a short while later at high tide, revealed substantial high tide roosts all the way along. Rooks, from the nearby colony, were seen defending their territory quite vigorously.
Gulls and Lapwings round about the boundary fence.
Curlew and Oystercatcher roost seen from the layby near Maryland Farm.
Kestrel invading the Rook's ( from the nearby rookery) space.
A Buzzard shares the same fate.
DB - 30 Fieldfare, 20 Redwing.
16th October.
'Barnacles are back on the Solway' link: - http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/campfieldmarsh/b/campfieldmarsh-blog/archive/2015/10/20/the-barnacles-are-back-poster.aspx
17th October.
A very still day today. The clouds had a north-easterly drift to them.
John, in venturing down the Lonning, noted small groups of Redwing flying out of the hedges.
Late afternoon, about 1500 Barnacles flew WSW over West Common in small groups, about half an hour after high tide.
Barnacles flocks flying along the Estuary.
Small group flying west.
Up-side-down Grey Squirrel peering out of the hamlet gate.
18th October.
Started off sunny after a very cold night but day gradually deteriorate to dull stillness. However there were plenty of duck and waders on the estuary at low tide (high water of 8.6m at 15.50 pm ).
A few birds about on the Lonning but John did record seeing Redwings in the hedgerows.
Autumn colours early morn.
Early morning evidence of last night's badger rootings in hamlet orchard.
Robin picking amongst fallen leaves.
Wetlands Centre feeders - always a good collection of birds.
Oystercatcher group on tideline.
Mallard, Golden Plover and Lapwing on the mudflats.
Lapwings on mussel scaur off Scargavel Point.
End of day sunbeams over the Saltmarsh.
LOGBOOK SIGHTINGS.
CT - American Golden Plover, Anthorn masts(11.45am). Showing well. 2200 Barnacle Geese + 3 leucistic birds in the flock.
Pond dipping as part of a children's party:-
Faith - Little fish; Leah - Water boatman; Amy - Water boatman and something that looked like a tadpole and a snail.
20th October.
A cool day with intermittent sunshine and showers. High water of 8.0m at 17.20pm. A good number of duck came in with the tide: Mallard, Shelduck and Shoveler
UR - Male Hen Harrier seen briefly from the hide over the wetlands.
21st October.
Rained overnight but remaining misty in the morning with a suggestion of rain in the air. Milder though.
At 3.45pm six Little Egrets flew along the saltmarsh. They eventually landed on the west side of the viaduct and continued feeding in the dubs there.
Link to Blog "Six Little Egrets on Campfield Marsh - 21st October" :- http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/campfieldmarsh/b/campfieldmarsh-blog/archive/2015/10/23/six-little-egrets-on-campfield-marsh-21st-october-2015.aspx
22nd October.
High water of 7.5m at 7.27 am. Light rain of the morning cleared up to sunshine after lunch with a strongish SW wind blowing. Golden, Grey and Green Plover along with Mallard an 2 Pintail seen out on the mudflats late afternoon.
The highlight of the day was the Great White Egret spotted at 2.40pm from the hide by Hedda Moore.
See Blog: "Great White Egret at Campfield Marsh - 22nd October."
Link to Bog:- http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/campfieldmarsh/b/campfieldmarsh-blog/archive/2015/10/28/great-white-egret-at-campfield-22nd-october-2015.aspx
LOGBOOK SIGHTING.
HRM - 2.40 pm, Great White Egret (from hide) in front of the wood to right - showing well. 2.45 pm, male Hen Harrier from masts to Rogersceugh.
Grey, Golden and Green Plover on the mudflats.
Pintail and Mallard dabbling on the mudflats.
23rd October.
Not an unduly cold day today - Intermittent rain and sunshine but with strong westerly winds all day.
High water of 7.8m at 8.51am. As the tide receded good groups of Mallard, Wigeon, Teal and Pintails were to be found on the mudflats and in pools left by the tide.
As the wind stepped up after lunch most of these moved off west leaving a small group of Shelduck and Pintails behind. The Pintail group amounted to about a dozen with some young birds amongst them. Just after 2pm a Little Egret flew onto the marsh near Biglands.
On walking down the Lonning four Whooper Swans were happily feeding and preening along with an accompaniment of Wigeon, eager to take advantage of the Whoopers feeding methods.
Mallard, Pintail and Lapwing.
Mallard, Grey Plover, Shelduck and Black-headed Gulls.
Wigeon taking off.
Little Egret near Biglands lay-by.
Whooper Swans with Wigeon on 1st Meadow Pool.
Barnacle fly-by.
SHL - 3 pm, male Hen Harrier off west end of wood behind the wetlands.
24th October.
It had rained all morning until about 1.30 pm. A very strong cold NW wind was blowing. High water of 8.4m was at 10am.
At 1 pm a flock of Barnacles flying in an easterly direction along the estuary turned and flew over the hamlet towards the Reserve.
John decided to have a look on the Reserve to see if they had landed.. However he came across 5 Whoopers washing and bathing in front of the hide pool but no sign of the Barnacles.
So later, at 3pm, Judith took up the cudgels and trekked to the hide where the Whoopers were still in the same place. Having photographed them and being on the lookout for a Harrier perhaps suddenly the Great White Egrets head popped up in the distance, over near the wood.
Read the Blog entitled - "The Great White Egret comes to Campfield" for the full story.
Link:- http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/campfieldmarsh/b/campfieldmarsh-blog/archive/2015/10/28/great-white-egret-at-campfield-22nd-october-2015.aspx.
Great White Egret hunting in the reedbed of the 2nd Meadow Pool.
Five Whoopers taking off from the wetlands.
Fieldfare and Redwing flying near the wood over the wetlands.
Wigeon and Teal on the hide pool.
Curlew taking off from the saltmarsh.
Barnacles flying low over the water - seen from the marsh.
PB - Goldfinches, Starlings, Chaffinches, Great Tit, Coal Tit and BlueTits on feeders at the Centre. Pheasant alone. Teal and Wigeon on hide pool. Tree Sparrows and Linnets appeared. A Sparrowhawk flew past in front of the Centre.