As our ex-warden put it - "Pink-feet here, pink-feet there, pink-feet everywhere".
For all locals, an exciting signature of autumn, particularly for those of us for whom one of our first childhood memories were their calls.
In the area, numbers build up from a few in early September and can reach over 20,000. Already, numbers at Marshide are in the 600's. I am fortunate to live under the daily flightpath from daily foraging on inland fields to roosting on the estuary at night though in bright moon-llght, they can be heard constantly on the move feeding. They can take an hour to fly over. As well, there are lots of smaller scale comings and goings on the reserve - one is rarely out of earshot.
Yesterday, other highlights included a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper at Nel's Hide with about 850 Black-tailed Godwits and 4 Spotted Redshanks (including 2 juveniles). A juvenile Black Tern spent the afternoon over Polly's Pool and Rainford's Lagoon and 3 were seen over Crossens Outer Marsh.
Today, an early evening report from the above warden -
The Pectoral Sandpiper is still showing well at Nel's Hide, also there are 3 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 670 Black-tailed Godwits, 9 Gadwall, 55 Shoveler, 590 Teal, 140 Wigeon, about 400 Pink-footed Geese & a leucistic female Red-crested Pochard too. Merlin, Peregrine & Sparrowhawk all blasted through. A Black Tern was still feeding over Polly's Pool - all in all birdtastic.