01/08/2020

Bar-tailed Godwit at The Midrips

An early morning walk along The Midrips and Wicks on Saturday was very pleasant in the warm breeze. There were still 23 Avocets present, all the young are now fledged which is good news, as is at least 16 fledged Black-headed Gulls. Not so good was the 6 adult Shelduck that don't appear to have succeeded in rearing any young, probably too many Foxes on the ranges these days. Lots of juvenile Yellow Wagtails were flitting around the sea wall, they seem to have done well all over Walland Marsh, even 3 pairs raising young in the field in front my house. Only a few migrant waders were there 2 Whimbrel, a Black and a Bar-tailed Godwit along with 5 Dunlin. Pulses of Sand Martins and Swallows were moving south.

Avocets at The Midrips

Great White Egret at Denge Marsh

At Denge Marsh all the usual species including all 3 Egrets species, 2 of the Cattle Egrets were young of this year. 

Juvenile Cattle Egret with just the tip of its bill still black

Juvenile Cattle Egrets at Denge Marsh

3 adult & 2 juvenile Cattle Egrets at Denge Marsh

Sand Martins at Denge Marsh 

1 of 2 Garganey seen at the ARC

Saturday evening at the ARC found 2 Garganey among the many wildfowl present. There are large numbers of Pochard and Gadwall there which I would normally count, but without access to hides to be able to see them all I'd be wasting my time. A single Black-necked Grebe could be seen and the Stilt was also present but distant. Oystercatchers seems to have nearly reared a chick despite the attention of the many resident Foxes.

Juvenile Oystercatcher behind a sleepy Garganey

My almost obligatory rubbish image of the Black-winged Stilt

Oystercatchers over the southern end of the ARC heading to roost on Burrowes

As dusk fell over the ARC Saturday night several 100s of Oystercatchers flew in over the southern end of the ARC from Lade Sands to roost on Burrowes. 5 Cattle Egrets, 9 Little Egrets and 3 Great White Egrets came to roost at the ARC.

Sunday morning sea watch from the fishing boats by AJG:

06.00-08.00:

Common Scoter: 1W  9E

Great-crested Grebe: 2W

Fulmar: 1E

Gannet: 142W

Dunlin: 12W

Kittiwake: 9W

Sandwich Tern: 4W

Common Tern: 51W

Chiffchaff: 1 foraging around fishing boats

A stroll around Galloways Sunday morning saw good numbers of fledged Stonechats, Linnets and Common Whitethroats but just a few Willow Warblers moving through and a lone Wheatear. 

Lesser Swallow Prominent a first for my trap 

Jersey Tiger in the garden