Another and much welcomed after work birding session on the marsh. Again I selected the viewing area above the north banks of No.6 tank where a gathering of 347 Golden Plover had joined up with the roosting Lapwings. surprisingly the Black-tailed Godwit flock had departed the area apart from a small number tucked away in a corner of the tank. Ruff numbers have increased with 13 birds present and a flock of 240 Dunlin had 3 Little Stint for company.
A flock of 32 Tufted Duck also saw the return of 20 Common Pochard. A drake Wigeon, 24 Shoveler, 7 Pintail and 50 Common Shelduck were typically low in compared to their usual counts.
A Water Rail was calling from the reed beds below and a steady trickle of Raven were moving south at duck.
The arrival of an unseen raptor at dusk forced all the shorebirds from their sleep and they wheeled around the tank for several minutes. Eventually they resettled after the threat had subsided and an element of calm fell over the marsh.
Observers: Arthur Harrison, WSM (and images).
