A perfect day to wander round the Estuary. Birds were on the move and migrants were coming in. After all it was one of the few 10m tides of the year - so why not investigate?
By the time we reached the River Wampool near the Anthorn masts, the tide was just starting to push up the river. We watched four Goosander come sailing up the river to meet the Gulls and Duck already there at the bend in the estuary where it meets the river. They were all getting a little restless by the time the tide came sweeping in. Small parties of duck and gulls were flying back and forth, continually repositioning themselves until the flood came whence they sailed effortlessly in with it. The Goosanders went with them.
The light by now was strong and well into the south. It unfortunately caused everything to be silhouetted against it.
Goosander going downsteam . . .
. . . and coming alongside Lapwings on the mudflats.
Goosander were seen in the same area a few days earlier.
Lapwings moving in . . .
. . . and landing on a sandbank in the middle of the estuary.
Shelduck flying in.
. . . and landing.
Tide racing in.
Goosanders heading back up river on the incoming tide..
Having had our lunch while watching this event, we then carried on round the Cardurnock Peninsula. Next was a quick stop at the RSPB layby overlooking the Saltmarsh Pool. A Grey Heron was hunting on the far shore and a few Mallard, Teal and Gulls were spread about on the islands. Oystercatchers were lining the shoreline.
Grey Heron on shoreline.
Lapwing, Mallard and Teal on Saltmarsh Pool.
A Little Egret was on the saltmarsh in front of Biglands layby but we couldn't stop as the tide was filling well into the estuary and we wanted to reach the 'stones' at Bowness railings before they became completely covered. They are a good resting place for waders of all kinds at high tide. One never knows what might pop up!
We were not disappointed on arriving at the 'Railings', however. A Curlew Sandpiper came picking along the tide's edge to greet us and frequent fly-bys of Dunlin and Ringed Plover occurred over the next half hour or so. Further along the shore a large flock of Redshank were gathered, together with duck, gulls and two or three Grey Herons. The Redshank periodically took to the air for a fly round but always came back to the same location. Way along the coastline we could see the outline of the harbour walls at Port Carlisle - now draped with 15 Cormorants.
Curlew Sandpiper picking along the shore.
Dunlin and Ringed Plover flying restlessly back and forth.
Ringed Plover.
Dunlin and Ringed Plover sweeping in low.
Gulls, Duck, Redshank and a Heron round an inlet further east along the marsh edge.
Redshank flock putting on an aerial display . . .
. . . and coming into land.
Cormorants lining the Old Harbour walls at Port Carlisle.
Carrying on towards Port Carlisle we came across 3 Little Egrets and a couple of Grey Herons, watched by Crows as they busily caught craneflies on the marsh edge.
Little Egrets, Grey Heron and Crows looking expectantly . . .
. . . for what must have been a hatch of craneflies.
We once more circled the Cardurnock Peninsula but all urgency and activity of the high tide had subsided and settled down into high tide roosts of birds waiting for the mudflats to again give up their bounty.