Well flooded managed meadows on the farm.
1st February.
A flock of Stock and Collared Doves were frequenting the hamlet today - perhaps sensing the changing weather as Storm Henry was about to descend upon us.
The wind started to pick up during the evening and it rained most of the night. It would certainly ' fill our dykes' - so to speak!
2nd February.
The female Brambling put in an appearance on the roadside feeders early morning - together with the Grey Squirrel performing a few of its antics. It had already unfastened the karabener holding the nut hanger to the tree and raveged the nuts from within. Then, having climbed the gate, it sat quietly for a while, devouring more nuts. Finally, descending and taking a flying leap over ferns in the border - it was gone!
Early morning conversation piece.
Grey Squirrel had already played havock with the karabiner fastening on the Squirrel-proof hanger.
Gate climbing to access more nuts.
Quiet for a while. . .
. . . before romping away.
3rd February.
The morning brought yet another change. It stayed cold with a strong NW wind, but the sun shone all day. Heavy snow clouds dominated the Scottish side of the estuary. Again early morning the Brambling visited the roadside feeders.
Late afternoon, two swans (presumed to be Mutes) flew east over the saltmarsh, While later a flock of about 50 Barnacles flying NE turned back to fly inland over the Reserve.
Skein of Barnacles cutting back.
4th February.
A distinctly milder day with temperatures nearly in double figures but remaining dull throughout.
A Great Crested Grebe could be seem well out on the estuary as the tide came in (High tide 8.40 am). 6 brightly coloured Goldfinch were feeding on the nut hangers and at 3.30pm a skein of Barnacles flew west along the tideline.
LOGBOOK ENTRY.
Colin Bowness - female Merlin perched on tree debris before heading out onto the Solway tide line. 8am - Rogersceugh: Peregrine pursuing a lapwing - towering several times but the Lapwing continued to evade it until I lost sight of them - went behind farm buildings. When I came around the farm a few minutes later, Peregrine was dive-bombing.
5th February.
A lot warmer - possibly 11 degrees, but rained most of the day. At 10 pm, half an hour after high tide, a few Curlew with Oystercatchers out on tideline. Good aerial displays of waders and periodically still flocks of Barnacles flying west.
6th February.
A dull day with rain on and off - very mild.
As the tide came in, a flock of about 150 Wigeon floated in with it.
Wigeon at high tide.
Phil Evans and Christine had reported some 2000 Dunlin on the mudflats just after high tide.
Dunlin flying by as tide ebbs.
A mid-afternoon trip down the Lonning yielded: Robin and Blue Tits singing on the track; 400 Lapwings on marshy grassland beyond the new scrape - 1st Meadow Pool; a Little Grebe and a pair of Mallard - 2nd Meadow Pool; Pintail, Shoveler, Teal, Wigeon, Mallard and Lapwing - from Hide.
View across the Meadow Pools towards the Lake District fells.
Blue Tit displaying.
Lapwing on grassland seen from 1st Meadow Pool screen . . .
. . . and in muddy pools round about.
Little Grebe and female Mallard - 2nd Meadow Pool . . .
. . . and Male Mallard displaying.
Pintail seen from the hide.
Lapwing flying in onto the wetlands . . .
. . . and good numbers roosting here.
Flying Shoveler.
Teal foraging in rushy meadow beyond the pool.
On returning to the estuary, the tide was well out. The Little Egret was busy foraging along the flooded dubs and pools on the saltmarsh.
7th February
Strong winds and rough seas flooded the marsh substantially today (Storm Imogen). Most of the birds onshore were keeping well down out of the wind. The Avocet was seen briefly amongst the Oystercatchers.
Rough seas at high tide in bay west of the Viaduct . . .
. . . and further west along the saltmarsh. Distant flock of Dunlin, battling against the wind, are just visible.
Common and Black-headed Gulls flying on a stormy high tide.
Oystercatchers and Curlew sheltering from the gale.
Common Gull with Oystercatcher and Avocet at high tide.