An after work visit to the marsh this evening in glorious sunshine. A walk along the top banks of No.5 tank overlooking No.6 tank was rewarded with fine views of a flock of 260 Black-tailed Godwit with one sporting colour leg rings (details of this bird at bottom of this post). A smaller flock of 45 Dunlin 6 Avocet, 6 Redshank and 32 Ringed Plover. All these birds would inevitably attract the attention of the local Peregrine, a male hurtled in scattering the godwit flocks which in turn retaliated and began to mob the falcon.
There was a huge gathering of ducks on the tank tonight with Common Shelduck being the most prominent species numbering c300 birds, Gadwall were well represented with 126, followed by 100 Mallard, 67 Tufted Duck and a solitary drake Common Pochard
Over on No.5 tank itself a Short-eared Owl was observed pouncing into tall grass before perching up and then heading over the reed beds on six.
Bizarrely, I came across the severed head of an adult Lapwing on the banks close to the track
Observer and images: WSM.
Black-tailed Godwit colour ringed as above:
Chick – Green/White-Orange/Black 10.07.15 Kaldaðarnes, Árnessýsla, S Iceland
GW-OB 31.08.15 Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby, Merseyside, NW England
GW-OB 7.11.15 Frodsham Marsh, Cheshire, NW England
GW-OB 16.05.16 Frodsham Marsh, Cheshire, NW England
GW-OB 17.05.16 Frodsham Marsh, Cheshire, NW England
