View across the saltmarsh and the Solway Estuary on a bright cold day.
The New Year started off bright and crisp with cold northerly winds prevailing. After a changeable month, it ended up much wetter and milder.
The high waters were bringing fairly large flocks of waders to the saltmarsh roosts along the length of the Reserve shore, making for good viewing from the lay-bys and coast road, where periodic aerial displays of Dunlin with some Grey Plover could be observed over the estuary. These are particularly spectacular when the flock turns suddenly and their wings catch the sunlight.
1st January - Wader roost on the saltmarsh.
1st January - Dunlin and Grey Plover landing.
3rd January - Waders in aerial display
11th January - Dunlin and Grey Plover roosting on the edge of the saltmarsh at high tide.
12th January - waiting for the tide to ebb before feeding commences..
9th January - Grey Plover on the mudflats.
11th January - Grey Plover rounding Scargavel Point on a stormy high tide.
15th January - Curlew on the saltmarsh near Maryland.
28th January - Dunlin flying by at Scargavel Point.
Also of particular note is the now substantial flock of Pintails which regularly come in close at high tide. Wigeon, Mallard and Shoveler are in evidence together with Shelduck, whose lighter coloured bodies stand out all the way along the mudflats. A pair of Goosanders have been floating in on the high tide, quite regularly now. A small group of Redshank can often be seen busily picking round the edge of the tide, eager to not miss any morsels it might deliver. And finally, a couple of Grey Heron, standing stock still, as they monitor the activity of the marshes.
2nd January - Pintail and a few Mallards in bay west of the Viaduct.
27th January - A tideline group: Oystercatchers, Pintail, Mallard and Dunlin . . .
. . . and Shelduck.
9th January - Shelduck out on mudflats.
2nd January - Mallard in evening sun.
12th January - Shoveler dabbling on the marsh edge.
15th January - Pair of Goosanders off Scargavel point.
15th January - Redshank with Dunlin, feeding on the marsh edge.
A Kestrel has been frequently seen hunting over the drift-line at the top of the marsh and skeins of Barnacles are a regular feature now until March, where they either flying west as the high tides push them off marshes further inland on the estuary or at dawn flying east. Little Egrets are quite at home on the saltmarsh - feeding in the 'dubs' for delicacies left by the tide. Two Grey Heron (Adult and Juvenile) also put in appearances here from time to time.
2nd January - Kestrel hovering over the drift-line high up on the saltmarsh.
3rd January - Barnacles flying west, low round the 'Point'.
15th January - Barnacles flying east up the estuary.
15th January - Little Egret has been seen most days on the saltmarsh - here it is inspecting the flooded dubs.
15th January - Juvenile Grey Heron looking very statuesque surveying events.
Back over on the farm a bright male Bullfinch has been frequenting the feeders near the Centre and will fly ahead of you up the Lonning - a glimpse of it's white rump is often all you will see of it. A goodly flock of Linnets, with a few Reed Buntings amongst them, can be seen flying around in the proximity of the Wetlands Centre - landing on the trees overlooking the car park, if you look carefully. The managed arable fields are certainly doing a good job of providing an abundance of winter seed for them.
7th January - Bullfinch on very busy feeders at the Wetlands Centre.
7th January - Some of the 20 or so Linnets in the trees round the car park.
The meadows here are becoming suitably wet now which is attracting Teal and Wigeon to graze them - occasionally flocks of Lapwings too, can be seen. The water on either side of the Lonning are starting to fill up with duck, with Shoveler and Mallard also putting in appearances. It is always tantalising, as you walk along the Lonning, to hear the whistle of Wigeon on the pools long before you see them. A rather striking male Grey Heron pops up periodically but it is mostly hidden hunting amongst the jungus.
29th January - 80 Wigeon were grazing the wet meadows on the LHS of the Lonning . . .
. . . and enjoying the floodwater in the late afternoon sunshine.
7th January - Female Shoveler on floodwater - LHS of the Lonning.
28th January - Mallard and Little Egret on Meadow Pools, RHS of the Lonning.
The hide is a good place for contemplation. One can always see something of interest if you sit quietly and view the scene. There are plenty of Teal and Wigeon, with some Mallard, Shoveler and, this year, really good numbers of Pintail. If you are lucky, perhaps a Hen Harrier wlll put in an appearance; a couple of Buzzards maybe, and perhaps a Kestrel, Sparrowhawk or Peregrine, will fly over. It's worth dallying there a while!
29th January - Pintail on hide pool.
7th January - Teal on hide pool . . .
. . . and one having a good stretch.
Pinkfeet, returning to their breeding grounds further north, call into the Solway area on passage and have recently been seen in fields nearby. They then will flight over the Reserve and, on occasions, will use the grassy meadows round the hide to graze.
3rd January - Pinkfeet grazing in nearby fields.
21st January - Pinkfeet over the Lonning.
21st January - Pinkfeet group catching the late afternoon sunlight, as they fly over the farmland.
Several people have seen a Great White Egret at different places on the Reserve, over the month - so there is that to look out for.
Then, rather than walking straight back along the Lonning, there is always the choice of a continued walk onto the Moss across the boardwalk (the Red Route) or the less challenging return over farmland back through the Discovery field to the Centre (the Blue Route).