High tide inundation of the saltmarsh towards the boundary fence.
A group of Workparty volunteers had been viewing the high tide activities from the RSPB lay-by near Maryland farm - after having finished a morning planting wildflowers in the Discovery Field on the Reserve.
Completed wildflower planting in the Discovery Field.
The high tide of 10m at 12.50 pm, had substantially covered the saltmarsh causing plenty of activity with flocks of Waders, Ducks and Gulls all being pushed from their usual roosting areas onto the exposed strips of saltmarsh and pool margins.
Birds taking advantage of exposed strips of saltmarsh.
At 1 o'clock, the sharp eyes of the workparty birders spotted an Avocet almost straight in front of the lay-by nestled down with other waders on the far side of Saltmarsh Pool. Marjorie Hutchin had her telescope trained on it and was quickly able to pop her iPhone into a newly purchased bracket to obtain this shot - an excellent record of this bird here!
Avocet with other waders (photo - Marjorie Hutchin)
A continuous stream of waders, ducks and gulls had been flying west along the marsh for the previous half hour - mostly landing in this secluded corner of the marsh.
One of many flights of Oystercatchers.
A small Lapwing flock.
Pintail.
A Curlew picking along the saltings.
Little Egret surveying for morsels left by the tide.
Then about half and hour later skeins of Barnacles started to put in an appearance - landing out near the boundary fence.
Barnacle flock heading west along the saltmarsh.
Having ourselves watched this wader, gull and goose activity at high tide from West Common, we had decided to go down the Lonning - being tantalised by the sound of Whoopers coming from the Meadow Pools. Their 'hoo hoo' calls can be heard quite a distance away. On arriving, we were pleased to find 32 Whoopers including 2 juveniles upending on 1st Meadow Pool - accompanied by a numbers of Wigeon and Teal. Also draped around the vegetation at the west end of the pool were 5 Grey Heron and 3 Little Egrets. All in all, a good gathering!
Whoopers enjoying the seclusion of this pool.
Always quite vocal.
Whoopers unending for roots of Flag Iris. They make a pretty good job of clearing the pools of decaying vegetation.
Little Egret giving them a fly-by.
Possibly a family group.
Five Grey Heron round the end of the Pool.
Two of the original three Little Egrets.
Only on reaching the hide did we hear about the Avocet's appearance. The only thing we could do was about turn and head for the Saltmarsh Pool. Sadly the bird did not show up . . . but, by now, the tide had receded and the Pool was full of duck enjoying whatever the high tide had deposited.
Wigeon,Teal and Lapwing busily feeding on deposited morsels.