8th January.
Rained most of the day but still cold.. There had been snow showers overnight on high ground: looking across the Solway, the Scottish hills were snow-capped.
There was a flurry of garden birds eager to top up from the feeders.
An interesting article appeared in Birdguides:
British Ornithological Union split Northern Harrier from Hen Harrier.
Link: http://www.birdwatch.co.uk/channel/newsitem.asp?c=11&cate=__16182
9th January.
Waders on mudflats with snow on the Scottish hills over the other side of the estuary.
A dull start to the day. The high tide of 9m at 11.3am brought rain with it.
Prior to that at 10.50 am, a large flock of Barnacles flying west along the saltmarsh included a leucistic one. Also, the Avocet could be seen with the Oystercatcher flock, on the tide's edge near Byers Cottage.
At 11.55 am flocks of small waders (mostly Dunlin) moved out onto the mudflats. HKM reported seeing a Sanderling and a few Knot with the Dunlin.
Early afternoon, a flock of Barnacles were grazing the saltmarsh just west of the viaduct.
LOGBOOK SIGHTINGS
Peter Warden - 45 Pintails, 4 Bullfinches (on path), 3 Whoopers in front of the hide.
Peter Howard and Chris Hind - Male Hen Harrier and Peregrine Falcon from hide. Large number of Snipe - marsh pool.
Barnacles on saltmarsh round Scargavel Point.
Waders flying east as Barnacles graze the marsh in front.
10th January.
High tide
A fairly strong cold NW wind was blowing. So, with a 9.3m high tide at 12.10 pm the saltmarsh soon flooded. Consequently there was plenty of wader and goose activity along the whole stretch of the saltmarsh. Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Curlew and Barnacles were all viewed during the afternoon. At 12.42pm the Avocet was spotted with a flock of Oystercatchers flying low over the turbulent waves.
Barnacle flock as they round Scargavel Point and hit the wind.
Avocet with Oystercatchers, battling against the wind.
Avocet close up.
Curlew at high tide.
Grey Plover and Dunlin roost.
Oystercatcher and Grey Plover flying.
Oystercatcher and Grey Plover as the tide recedes.
Dunlin and Grey Plover soon return to the mudflats as the tide goes out.
Oystercatchers repositioning themselves as the mudflats again become exposed.
Jackdaws and Stock Dove under hamlet feeders.
Tree Sparrows love RSPB fat treats.
11th January.
Meadow Pool reflections.
Today was a much calmer day, with no wind and plenty of sunshine. The birds responded to the change too.
Late morning good numbers of Lapwing with a few Curlew were to be seen on the wet meadows and on the wetlands beyond the hide, Teal, Wigeon, Mallard and more Lapwing were present. The small family of Whooper Swans were on the pool in front of the hide.
Lapwing and a Redshank viewed across the wet meadows.
Lapwing reflections.
Lapwing beyond 1st Meadow Pool.
Female Teal and male Wigeon on Meadow Pools.
Teal looking colourful in the sunshine.
Lapwing on promontory viewed from the hide.
Family of Whoopers in front of the hide.
A high tide of 9.5m at 12.50pm created substantial movement on the estuary and brought about cloudier conditions as it covered the mudflats. Frequent breathtaking aerial displays of grey waders were now taking place between the Viaduct and Saltmarsh Pool. Periodically they would land on the edge of the marsh and, just as quickly, take to the air again. There were in the region of 1000 birds consisting mostly of Dunlin with smaller numbers of Grey Plover.
Over towards the boundary fence, on the western edge of the Reserve, a substantial roost of Oystercatcher and Curlew had gathered. Although it was some half a kilometre away from the Lonning entrance, the Avocet could be seen (through the telescope) amongst them, on the tide's edge. A Grey Heron was also making its presence felt nearby.
Aerial display - mostly Dunlin but some Grey Plover too.
. . . flying low over the water.
. . . and coming into land on the edge of the saltmarsh.
Distant Oystercatcher and Curlew roost near Saltmarsh Pool - with Avocet amongst them.
Adult Grey Heron on saltmarsh edge.
A spectacular movement of Oystercatchers late afternoon - set up by a bird of prey, probably a Buzzard.
HKM - 36 Snipe on Saltmarsh Pool.
12th January.
Peter Wilson - 10.00am Lonning fields, Flock Lapwings, Golden Plovers.
Hide, Whooper Swans (2 adults 1 Juvenile), 1Ruff with Lapwing.
Heard a Willow Tit - Bowness CWT.
Visitor - Avocet with Oystercatchers.
13th January.
A rather dull drizzly day with a NW wind blowing. Round about high tide (a 9.6m tide at 2.13pm), 6 Little Egret flew west along the saltmarsh. Also small flocks of Barnacles were later seen flying in the same direction.
LOGBOOK SIGHTINGS.
PB - Sparrowhawk and 2 Buzzards at the scrape (Saltmarsh Pool).
MJW - 2pm, Kingfisher in front of 2nd Screen.
14th January.
Snow on Scottish hills across the estuary.
It dawned bright and sunny with a very cold northerly wind.
A Little Egret flew south over the hamlet at 2.30pm. The high water of 9.5m at 2.57pm, was still coming well up the marsh - producing excellent aerial wader displays round the high tide period.
There was a good wader roost round Byers Cottage outfall: of Dunlin, Grey Plover and Oystercatchers with activity round the saltmarsh edge into the late afternoon..
Aerial display of waders.
Dunlin flying by at Scargavel Point.
Dunlin, Oystercatcher and Grey Plover landing.
Dunlin on tide's edge.
Kestrel hunting over the marsh as the tide came in.
Dunlin waiting out the tide in low afternoon sunlight.
. . . Curlew also.