I make no apologies for the fact that the best place to look for birds when the reserve is almost frozen solid is the intertidal zone down on the seaweedy, muddy, rubbish strewn saltmarsh that sits between high and low water.
Today was no exception and I took the huge Kids Birdwatching Club group down there for a look. Well actually it was Brandon and his dad and we picked up Elaine whilst down there. The birding was great and like yesterday there were pipits, larks, Reed and now five Corn Buntings to watch. The Fieldfare flock had increased to 41 and I reckon over 70 were on the site. Greenfinches grovelled along the Victorian sea wall and Stonechat stood sentinel.
Snipe were a key feature and in total over 50 were seen on the full stretch with birds constantly being seen as they rocketed up from the thankfully unfrosen marsh. Even better were the Jack Snipe and unlike Wednesday when we saw none, today we had five in quick succession as they shot up and careened away with low flight and short bill on display. Somehow Elaine managed to even get a shot of one. Think that it was a new bird for everyone else!
Jack Snipe (Elaine Crew) If they could bob in flight they probably would!
We had Ruth, Brian, Phil, Vic, Richard and Jonathan on site today... definitely the Saturday Crew. they also had a good day and combined with my own counts we also had the following....
2 Goldcrest, 7 Song Thrush, 36 Collared Dove, 38 Chaffinch, 58 Goldfinch, 74 Linnet, 3 Cetti`s Warbler, 13 Skylark, 24 Reed Bunting, 11 Rock Pipit, Water Pipit, 12 Meadow Pipit, 4 Pintail, 12 Gadwall, 34 Shelduck, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 103 Coot, 11 Moorhen, 78 Common Snipe, Woodcock, 142 Lapwing, Turnstone, 10 Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 80 Dunlin, 140 Redshank, 101 Golden Plover, 2 Curlew, 2 Kestrel, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Water Rail
These are just the highlights.... and as Ruth said in her email to me with all the sightings... Just goes to show, it might be freezing out there, but there are goodies for the hardy to find.
With persistent sleet all day but no real snow, the paths remained accessible and safe. I am not putting too much faith in forecasts at the moment but it does currently look interesting overnight and through tomorrow morning in the South East so I shall do my best to get to work and will keep everyone updated as early as I can...
19-1-13
And Chris & I got a spotted redshank on the foreshore :-)