Hopefully not, last Saturday marked the end of the winter surveys, it’s no secret that I like the North Thames Marshes, and not just for the birds but the remote landscape has always called to me, be it here or Sheppey.
 |
| Spring has spurng |
I am not Billy no mates, quite sociable really, but when you’re out in the middle of nowhere, not a sole to be seen and you can’t hear constant yapping dogs or dog owners shouting for lost dogs, it becomes a special place. Listening instead to calling Curlew or flights of Wigeon going over is the norm, in short it is peaceful, as I have said in the past, it stirs the blood.
Saturdays birds were mainly made up of Wigeon, Curlew, Lapwing and returning Oystercatchers looking to breed in the new habitat.
We have not had the birds of previous winters, no wild Geese or Swans but it has still been great birding with just the regular birds, as it has flooded, numbers of high tide roosters have grown inland.
Paul did well at the far end towards Egypt Bay on Saturday in finding a Shore Lark in the stubble, a good record for the site to go along with the 3 Richard’s Pipits, single Snow Bunting, Great Grey Shrike and 2 Lapland Buntings seen over past winters.
Add to that the 16 and 7 Bewick’s Swans, White Fronted, Pinkfoot and Barnacle Geese, Rough Legged Buzzard and of course winter Raptors it has been a happy hunting ground.
If last Saturday was the last one, as the saying goes, it has been epic.
No comments:
Post a Comment