12.10.13. Birdlog
A watch on the Weaver Bend and estuary was quite productive with 12 Little Grebe, 12 Coot, 56 Tufted Duck, 4 Pochard, 76 Lapwing, 1 Ruff and 63 Redshank were roosting up while a Fox scavenging along the river’s edge behind them went unnoticed/ignord.
No 6 tank was again quiet with 45 Common Teal, 7 Pintail, 4 Shoveler and the female Ruddy Duck being present. The usual Water Rail squealing from reed beds here and a covey of 6 (2 adults, 4 juvenile) Grey Partridge makes you wonder where they came from, perhaps set down by the shooting brigade?
12 Raven were out and about on No 5 tank with a similar size flock of Jackdaw shadowing their movements. A Fieldfare brought in Autumn and a Goldcrest was calling along the hedgerow at Brook Furlong Lane.
Observers: Frank Duff, WSM (images and video).
The Lum where strange circular bales of hay perched on metal poles? I asked some of the pheasant shooters what they were and they said that they were nesting platforms for Mallards? Apparently the US shooters use them on their wetlands.
