Beckton - December 15th

 

With only 9 days left now to the arrival of 2025, I am on 98 species for the year, I have surpassed the 2023 total of 95 so have improved there, however unless 2 newbies appear on my last visit next week, it could be the total for 2024,as you know I always try to reach “the ton”.

As per previous, it’s not too bad for a small urban site with around 2 visits per month, with more visits, I could no doubt challenge my best total achieved in 2019 0f 109 for the Sewage Works and Outfall.


The mudflats held around 14 Black Tailed Godwit, 70 Redshank and a good number of Ducks as well dominated by Teal, but also numbers of Shelduck, Shoveler and Gadwall present.

The usual Common Buzzards were seen along with the usual Kestrel pairing, Pied/Grey Wagtails and Chiffchaff were all present sitewide also in good numbers.


Unusual sight of the morning will go down to an immature Mute Swan that tagged onto 6 Egyptian Geese and then landed very clumsily on the grass sward with them. The Egyptians are quite agile/mobile and don't require a run up as such to get airborne, the Swan however needs a good and longish run up, preferably on water to get airborne.

Immediate thoughts were to get it in the air to clear the sea wall and back onto the Thames.

Knowing their mobility limitations, the concern then was predation by Foxes if it stayed overnight on the green sward. If pushing it along to get it aloft didn't work, I was going to catch it and put it onto the Thames.

Herding it towards the westerly wind, so it was facing in the right direction for uplift, I then chased it as fast as my 67 old little legs would go, thankfully it worked a treat, it gained lift and height from the wind and it cleared the sea wall and flew out onto the Thames, a good result.

                                                                           Airborne!

                                                              Not the brightest Swan

 

Wells - Norfolk

 

We headed down for our annual November visit, staying overnight on the 20th/21st, as per previous visits, staying in Wells itself.

Leaving home on the 20th at 6.00a.m for the planned Seal Trip, although cold, gave no insight in the weather that was to arrive in Norfolk.

In short, the Seal Trip was cancelled in the morning, strong winds, very cold and snow showers from mid-morning made it hard, but we still thoroughly enjoyed it as ever.

The 21st thankfully, although cold was a glorious day.

On the birding front, I had a look round as per usual around the Quay but also visited Wells Harbour while Chris shopped.

A nice walk out to the beach by the huts on an incoming tide gave up Gannet, 4 Red Throated Divers, 6 Common Scoters,60 odd Pinkies and Red Kite amongst others.

The following morning at dawn we both went to our usual spot outside Wells to await the arrival from roost of vast skeins of Pink Footed Geese, last year we had thousands.

In the semi darkness on arrival, 3 Woodcock were seen lifting off the fields heading to roost and as the light advanced, we started to see plenty of other birds but alas only a handful of Pinkies.

We presumed that they had not roosted out on the Salting’s as per usual, and possibly had used another roost, or were numbers greatly reduced?

Moving on to Holkham later in the morning gave decent numbers, so hopefully numbers not in yet, or just feeding/roosting elsewhere?

                                                               Lots of Snow Wednesday

                                                                      Dawn Thursday

As ever a very enjoyable couple of days, despite the weather on Wednesday, back again in January so already looking forward to it.

Fish and Chips again at Frenchies never dissapoints.