High tides east of the Viaduct, Campfield Marsh
There has been a certain amount of excitement in air here at Campfield over the last few days. The highest tides of the month have added an extra dimension to our birdwatching. Today’s high water of 9.8m at 12.41pm with a strong south-westerly push, brought the tide in to cover most of the saltmarsh.
Currently there are many thousands of Oystercatchers, other waders, duck and Barnacle Geese frequenting the Solway Basin, so on these high tides the roosts are more concentrated. The Barnacle flock for the whole of the Solway has now reached 30,000+, consequently we are getting our regular fair share of them flighting and grazing here.
However, today, having heard recent tantalising reports of the Avocet being sighted amongst a flock of Oystercatcher on the Marsh, we decided to take a trip out to see what we could find.
We had barely started out before a heavy squall engulfed us and by the time we reached Biglands lay-by, the estuary was starting to blank out. Through the murk, however, one and then another Little Egret appeared picking their way along as the tide was, by now, well up on the saltmarsh. Then, through the haze, a large flock of Barnacles appeared and gradually settled down on the marsh in front of us. Also a flock of Oystercatchers could be discerned on the as yet un-flooded bits of the marsh – no Avocet present though!
Two Little Egret working along the saltmarsh.
Barnacles during the squall.
More coming into land.
As the rain subsided they settled down to peacefully grazing.
Oystercatchers clinging on to un-flooded bits of the saltmarsh.
Some of them becoming restless and flying off.
Other groups started to fly west, too.
More Barnacles came by flying west.
Then clouds of them followed.
Having watched all this activity here for a while - as the rain had stopped, we thought that the other side of the Viaduct would be providing more shelter generally and might be worth looking at. Passing the end of the bay west of the viaduct, we noticed that a few Wigeon and Shoveler were braving it out against the incoming waves and a small group of Oystercatcher and several Redshank had taken refuge there, too.
Wigeon and Shoveler facing the rollers.
Oystercatchers and Redshank hunkered down.
No sooner had we arrived east of the Viaduct than, through the hawthorns lining the marsh, we glimpsed yet another Little Egret busily feeding on morsels brought in by the tide which had by now flooded into this corner. Fortuitously, yesterday’s Campfield workparty had been coppicing gorse along this stretch- making for better viewing of the tideline and saltmarsh. Thus, ahead were visible a number of Oystercatcher roosts. Giving them the once over, as we had previously seen the Avocet here a week or so ago, we moved on to where we could see gulls swimming around and isolated groups of Oystercatchers roosting on un-flooded promontories. Soon, however, the incoming tide had quickly covered this area and the birds started to move on.
A glimpsed view of a Little Egret successfully gleaning morsels disturbed by the incoming tide.
View, opened up by the work party the previous day, into the corner of the marsh east of the viaduct.
Oystercatcher roost gradually being flooded.
They've had enough - off they go!
As the birds had made a hasty departure in the direction of the Saltmarsh Pool, further west along the marsh - this was our cue to move, too. On arriving at the lay-by near Maryland farm, we found virtually all of this marsh to be flooded - as it was now high tide. A long line of well-packed Oystercatchers had commandeered the thin ridge just at the back of where the pool had been. Sure enough, there in the middle of them sat the Avocet – plain for all to see! However, as its feeding method is different to that of the Oystercatcher, it was quickly on its feet on the edge of the water, sifting through it for food. It was good to see that it had gained security from the flock nearby but liked to do its own thing!
Avocet amongst Oystercatcher flock.
. . . becoming restless.
. . . and eventually feeding on the edge of the Pool.
Having stayed for a while to take photographs, a sudden squall came across and virtually wiped out the view – yet another cue to move on – this time, homeward bound for a good cup of tea!