Autumn Birding

Friday October 2

Moth meet at Cley on the 1st, the highlight being a lovely Vestal. 

Today was a day of birding landscapes and action, definitely enough birds to make us happy, without any of individual note. We arrived at Snettisham the day after three days of the RSPB's 'Wader Spectacular' events. People travel from all over the country for these high tide events, there were over 500 here yesterday. To our pleasure, there were very few others here today, and they were all birders. No cyclists. No dog walkers. Brilliant.

The tide was well on its way out, thousands of birds in their insulated groups forming long,sun-burnished conurbations on the mud, others scattered in between. Lincolnshire's trees on the horizon.


Most distantly, shining pale in their winter plumage, were the Knot. 

 


Nearer, the dark line was Oystercatchers, not as numerous as the Knot, but in good numbers. The Godwits, mostly Black-tailed, also keep to themselves. 

 


Just one quick flying display for us to day.

Knot Take-off

 


Knot landing

 


A quick look at the reserve pit, peering into the blinding sun, showed it to be full of Greylag, none of the expected waders on the islands. How variable it is here. Last week, there were no Greylag and the islands were full of roosting waders. About nine Spoonbills rested below the Shore Hide, several Cormorants were drying their wings. Plenty of Wigeon here too - as there were along the 'Cut' , a deep channel which always has water in it, even at low tide. On the near edge, a small group of Redshanks rested, their legs gleaming in the sun.

 


On the way out, Pam saw a Little Grebe, Coot, and a juvenile Great Crested Grebe for the list. Pam turned the car so that I could see them too. Thank you.

 Brancaster Staithe was relatively empty too. We added Turnstone to the list, and for me, one of the day's highlights, three Brent Geese flew up the channel from the sea. The first of the Autumn. Very few birds were seen until we arrived at Wells North Point pools. Again, so many Wigeon, they covered the water. I found two Ruff and a few Black-tailed Godwits amongst them. Pink-footed Geese grazed and rested in the surrounding meadows, some arriving to scatter the Wigeon on the water, others departing, always noisy.

 



We saw over fifty species from the car, loved the countryside and shore bathed in the sun, even more, loved being out looking for birds. Only two butterflies seen all day, both Large White.

 

 

 

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