Tuesday 29th July: Ruff
After some long overdue overnight rain, a much fresher start to the day. The floods were nicely topped up and there was plenty of bird activity.
First thing (around 06:30) there was a large congregation of egrets, herons and gulls at the mouth of the Trap Grounds creek where it is assumed that the remaining fish are sheltering. There was a new Meadow record (for this year at least) of 23 LITTLE EGRETS; there were also and around 10 grey herons. There were 3 RUFF mid way along the west shore (a male and 2 reeves) and also 5 SNIPE. On the south shore more or less opposite the north cove there were 2 DUNLIN. Along the north shore there was a single RINGED PLOVER and at stint corner there were 2 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER. There were a total of 9 COMMON SANDPIPERS mostly along the north and south shores. Still a large number of black-headed gulls with 3 lesser black-backed dotted amongst them. The COMMON TERNS still around and plenty of lapwings. There was what was presumbed to be a juvenile SHELDUCK swimming around in the middle of the north channel.
A juvenile little ringed plover © Peter Styles
First thing (around 06:30) there was a large congregation of egrets, herons and gulls at the mouth of the Trap Grounds creek where it is assumed that the remaining fish are sheltering. There was a new Meadow record (for this year at least) of 23 LITTLE EGRETS; there were also and around 10 grey herons. There were 3 RUFF mid way along the west shore (a male and 2 reeves) and also 5 SNIPE. On the south shore more or less opposite the north cove there were 2 DUNLIN. Along the north shore there was a single RINGED PLOVER and at stint corner there were 2 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER. There were a total of 9 COMMON SANDPIPERS mostly along the north and south shores. Still a large number of black-headed gulls with 3 lesser black-backed dotted amongst them. The COMMON TERNS still around and plenty of lapwings. There was what was presumbed to be a juvenile SHELDUCK swimming around in the middle of the north channel.
A juvenile little ringed plover © Peter Styles