My two wildlife highlights today were one of our largest moths, with a wingspan of 75mm and one of the smallest Umbellifers with each flower just 1mm across. The Red Underwing was on my window and the Slender Hare’s Ear was flowering at the west end of the Beach Reserve.
In spite of the heavy rain, water levels are now low on all the pools and waders move freely from one to another to exploit food sources exposed in the wet mud. This morning’s birds were: Little Egret 6, Avocet 25, Dunlin 16, Ringed Plover 15, Black-tailed Godwit 5, Common Sandpiper 2, Wood Sandpiper 1, Greenshank 1. (The latter two birds preferred the E end of the roadside pool.)
In addition, 220 Mallard were on the third pool, many Pied Wagtails were fluttering about on the mud and a lone Carrion Crow was picking over the shells of stranded Swan Mussels.
Highlights this morning, 268 Golden Plover were roosting on Flat Beach, 3 Pintail and 9 Common Sandpiper were at Ternery Pool and at least 50 Yellow Wagtail and 40 Linnet were along Shore Ridges.