RXwildlife Sightings

Sunday 6th November 2011. At last something to write about, arrived around 7.15 am, with the tide on the ebb and the first thing of note was large numbers of geese flying high in skeins coming from Brede levels, probably Brents but not sure, where they headed S.W. out to sea. As the morning went on, the sea became more and more busy, with 500 Brent Geese west. Shelduck put in more of appearance with 20/30 around the bay. In fact  there were mostly dabbling ducks on the sea with Mallard, Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal,in mixed rafts, also 4 Pintail east, 2 Tufted Duck east, 1 Goldeneye and a duck Goosander both of which headed west. Waders were also in with Ruff, Redshank, Curlew, Grey and Golden Plovers. Lapwing were in good numbers with 6/800 on the marsh, also there were good numbers coming off the sea all morning. Dunlin also had a easterly movement in small parties all morning along with three Knot,but the biggest movement of waders was 3/400 Oystercatcher west. For me the best sighting of the morning was when I started walking along the beach, when two male Snow Bunting flew in front of me, and by the end of morning the total built upto eight or nine in a flock which slowly moved  along the beach in the company of Pied Wagtails. There were two Marsh Harrier, a male and a female, both adult birds, at the pools. Good birdwatching Pete.

The morning started out with good numbers of redwings, fieldfares and blackbirds flying over, while the two black redstarts were still around the toilet block. The great white egret and a little stint was seen on burrows pit along with five dunlin. A flock of seven brent geese and the Glaucous gull flew past the visitor centre. Two bitterns were present one in front of Scott hide and one over ARC, as well as the long-tailed duck which was still in front of Hanson hide, along with a few goldeneye. Other highlights over ARC included a kingfisher and a ringtail hen harrier. A merlin was seen along the entrance track.