Once again the bay was full of life on yesterdays WeBS count. A full array of ducks were tucked in to the shelter of Vane Bay early in the morning, joined soon afer by a small flock of pinkies after leaving their roost near St Serfs.
5 whoopers were mingling happily with the mute swans, and pochard were ever present with over 200 spread throughout the bay. The 200 teal remained in the shallows, tucked in tight to the shoreline and feeding on the sandy edge. Wigeon numbers in the bay reached to over 80, 250 tufties, 15 pintail, 8 gadwall and 70 mallard were also recorded along with 25 lapwing. The mud on the wetland has once again pulled in the waders, with a flock of 65 lapwing near the 2nd hide, 4 each of dunlin and ringed plover were feeding on the flood.
The early morning goose count proved to be fairly quiet as the NNR is still to reach peak numbers. The loch totals were 546 greylag and 3354 pink-footed geese, with the largets flock (2000) to be seen from Burleigh Sands. The next count is likely to be towards the end of October.
Today saw a movement of whoopers from the loch onto the flood in front of the 3rd hide (which is still closed), curlew moved in to feed in front of the 2nd hide and both mute and whooper numbers in the bay increased as they sought shelter from the wind.