RSPB - A final scout round the bird reserve delivered the usual sawbills, egrets and wildfowl.
Wednesday, 31 December 2014
Last rites
Lade - 1000hrs - cold, sunny start, then cloudy, sw 3 - We struck out across the desert in the vain hope of finding the Little Bustard that was reported from East Guldeford yesterday flying toward Camber. If it is still on the Marsh (or the ranges, a likely spot) tomorrow will probably be the likely day for it to be found, what with all the NYD birders in the field. However, a smart Short-eared Owl hunting the airport fields behind the `mirrors` was some compensation, while the usual wildfowl were on a partially frozen lake. The Boxing Day gale did a fair bit of damage down here, including the power line pole below.
Power line down, Lade desert
Lade south
RSPB - A final scout round the bird reserve delivered the usual sawbills, egrets and wildfowl.
RSPB - A final scout round the bird reserve delivered the usual sawbills, egrets and wildfowl.
Tuesday, 30 December 2014
Review of the birding year 2014
Romney Marsh Birding Year
Looking back over the past twelve months it is plain to see that 2014 was yet another eventful year full of surprises and some wonderful birds for guests to enjoy, both in quantity and rarity value. The total species count for the year of 221 is not the best we`ve managed over the past nine years, but who cares, as there have been so many memorable days in the field.
The first winter period was dominated by the weather with mild, wet conditions raising the water levels across the Marsh with areas such as the Dowels almost completely flooded. The shingle peninsula was not exempt, and even the Trapping Area at Dungeness became a willow swamp, much to the liking of the years first major rarity, a Hume`s Leaf Warbler that lingered well into the spring. Along the foreshore a Glaucous Gull was a popular attraction along with one or two Caspian Gulls and a number of Little Gulls at the Patch; while the main prize, a single observer fly-through Ross`s Gull proved to be an addition to the Dungeness list. Offshore Great Northern Diver sightings were regular amongst the abundant Red-throated Divers, Great Crested Grebes, auks, gulls and Gannets.
1st winter Glaucous Gull, Dungeness
Glossy Ibis, going to roost, Burrowes pit
Much attention was paid to the RSPB reserve where flocks of Smew delighted visiting birders along with wintering Black-throated Divers, Great White Egrets, Bitterns, Marsh Harriers and a Glossy Ibis, but a pair of Penduline Tits proved frustratingly difficult to locate. On Walland Marsh two Tundra Bean Geese, and flocks of White-fronted Geese and Bewick`s Swans wintered, and a Long-tailed Duck took up residence on Scotney where large flocks of Golden Plovers lingered. Elsewhere, Short-eared Owls showed well at Littlestone golf links, along with a Slavonian Grebe on Lade pits and Purple Sandpipers at Hythe; the location for the comedy episode of the year when a Chinese Pond Heron attracted the nations` twitchers to town.
Garganey, ARC
By mid-March all thoughts turned to spring migrants and there were some early records of Wheatear, Sand Martin, Garganey and Little Ringed Plover across the Dungeness NNR. The expected Med Gulls, Red Kites, Black-necked Grebes and Avocets trickled through along with an increase in Black Redstart, Chiffchaff and Firecrest numbers. At sea the first Sandwich Terns arrived, while Brent Geese departed, at times in spectacular numbers, and the two Penduline Tits put in a final appearance at the ARC reedbed.
And so to April and the main spring passage period which for passerines was a faltering affair with poor numbers of certain migrants such as Willow Warbler and Whinchat, while Turtle Dove and Spotted Flycatcher were almost rarities. On the plus side Ring Ouzels were up in numbers and a Yellow-browed Warbler was found in the lighthouse garden. Around the bird reserve a one day Purple Heron proved popular as was an unprecedented influx of Black-winged Stilts with a flock of ten followed by a pair that lingered into May raising hopes of breeding as they commuted between the hayfields and Scotney. Offshore the seabird passage was well underway, although numbers of skuas, terns and waders were low to start with. However, this was more than compensated for by the Pomarine Skua passage that peaked in early May when over 100 individuals clipped the point delighting the many birders present on what was Bank Holiday Monday.
Black-winged Stilts, Hayfields
May delivered some cracking birds commencing with a Red-rumped Swallow and Montagu`s Harrier on the local patch at Lade, a Hooded Crow at Dungeness, then four Bee-eaters at St Marys-in-the-Marsh, a Great Reed Warbler at Tower Pits and a personal lifer in the form of a singing Blyth`s Reed Warbler on the margins of the Trapping Area. Terns eventually surged through providing a memorable spectacle when hundreds of Common, Arctic and Black Terns dropped onto the ARC lake. On Lade bay summer plumage Arctic waders paused a while including good numbers of Tundra Ringed Plovers and Sanderlings in breeding plumage. Around the peninsula more Bee-eaters were reported along with Wood Sandpipers, Honey Buzzard, a Crane and an all too brief Long-billed Dowitcher on Dengemarsh.
Bearded Tit, Dengemarsh
By and large the warm, dry summer weather was beneficial for breeding birds where across the wetlands grebes did particularly well, also Reed and Cetti`s Warblers and Bearded Tits. A Bittern `boomed` in Hookers reedbed and several `pairs` of Marsh Harriers were successful. Common Terns raised young on the Dengemarsh rafts and elsewhere Mediterranean Gulls nested within a Black-headed Gull colony. On the Desert scrub both Whitethroat and Cuckoo fared well. Around Dungeness power station site Black Redstarts, Raven and Peregrine all bred with varying degrees of success, while at Brett`s Marina a pair of Egyptian Geese raised young for the first time. The Lydd heronry attracted five pairs of Little Egrets, delighting those able to climb the church tower on open day and gaze down upon the nest site.
Little Egret, Lydd heronry
On the debit side Tree Sparrows and Corn Bunting just about maintained their slim status quo across the Marsh farmland, while waders such as Lapwing and Oystercatcher fell foul of increasing predation from crows, gulls, foxes and badgers. Along the foreshore breeding Ringed Plover and Wheatear suffered disturbance from the public and their dogs. The breeding picture was particularly gloomy on the arable hinterlands with traditional farmland birds such as Grey Partridge, Turtle Dove reduced to a mere handful in number.
Tree Sparrow, Boulderwall
The eagerly awaited return wader passage was something of a damp squid this summer due to stubbornly high water levels on the bird reserve with only a trickle of Little Stints and Curlew Sandpipers noted, and an absence of `peeps`; although a Red-necked Phalarope on ARC was well received by one and all. A Glossy Ibis reappeared and three Cattle Egrets heralded a profitable second half of the year for this former rarity.
As we moved into August passerine migration went into overdrive with large numbers of Sand Martins and Willow Warblers on the move and by the months end an unprecedented fall of warblers, chats and flycatchers across the peninsula. Within the mix were several Wrynecks, Barred, Wood and Melodious Warblers and a Red-backed Shrike, while at Cockles Bridge a juv Montagu`s Harrier performed well. The fun continued into September with Pied and Spotted Flycatchers recorded in the hundreds, plus a large influx of Buzzards and Kestrels.
Dungeness seawatchers enjoyed an autumn to remember with a record breaking run of Pomarine Skuas and Sooty Shearwaters, plus sub-rarities such as Sabine`s Gull, Leache`s Petrel and several each of Grey Phalarope and Long-tailed Skua. On the land October yielded large movements of Ring Ouzels and House Martins, plus several Yellow-browed Warblers and a showy Woodlark. A trip down to Castle Water delivered a stunning adult White-winged Black Tern.
Rarities into November included a Great Grey Shrike, that tarried all too briefly at Dungeness, and a Dartford Warbler at Galloways. On the negative side the overhead autumn passage of pipits, finches, buntings and larks was once again almost non existent, and Yellow Wagtails were low in number.
Cattle Egrets, Dengemarsh
The year finished with Snow Buntings along the coast; Hen Harrier, wild swans and Bean Geese on Walland Marsh; Cattle and Great White Egrets on Dengemarsh; sawbills on the bird reserve, plus a Lesser Yellowlegs down at Pett Level.
During the course of the year we also made five day trips to northern France, enjoying such gems as Kentish Plover and Crested Lark along the coast; Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Crested Tit and Hen Harrier in Crecy; Bluethroat, White Stork and Black-winged Stilt in the Somme valley and seabirds at Cap-griz-nez. And I haven't even mentioned the butterflies, dragonflies, moths, wild flowers, mammals etc...
2014 certainly was a memorable year.
Looking back over the past twelve months it is plain to see that 2014 was yet another eventful year full of surprises and some wonderful birds for guests to enjoy, both in quantity and rarity value. The total species count for the year of 221 is not the best we`ve managed over the past nine years, but who cares, as there have been so many memorable days in the field.
The first winter period was dominated by the weather with mild, wet conditions raising the water levels across the Marsh with areas such as the Dowels almost completely flooded. The shingle peninsula was not exempt, and even the Trapping Area at Dungeness became a willow swamp, much to the liking of the years first major rarity, a Hume`s Leaf Warbler that lingered well into the spring. Along the foreshore a Glaucous Gull was a popular attraction along with one or two Caspian Gulls and a number of Little Gulls at the Patch; while the main prize, a single observer fly-through Ross`s Gull proved to be an addition to the Dungeness list. Offshore Great Northern Diver sightings were regular amongst the abundant Red-throated Divers, Great Crested Grebes, auks, gulls and Gannets.
Much attention was paid to the RSPB reserve where flocks of Smew delighted visiting birders along with wintering Black-throated Divers, Great White Egrets, Bitterns, Marsh Harriers and a Glossy Ibis, but a pair of Penduline Tits proved frustratingly difficult to locate. On Walland Marsh two Tundra Bean Geese, and flocks of White-fronted Geese and Bewick`s Swans wintered, and a Long-tailed Duck took up residence on Scotney where large flocks of Golden Plovers lingered. Elsewhere, Short-eared Owls showed well at Littlestone golf links, along with a Slavonian Grebe on Lade pits and Purple Sandpipers at Hythe; the location for the comedy episode of the year when a Chinese Pond Heron attracted the nations` twitchers to town.
By mid-March all thoughts turned to spring migrants and there were some early records of Wheatear, Sand Martin, Garganey and Little Ringed Plover across the Dungeness NNR. The expected Med Gulls, Red Kites, Black-necked Grebes and Avocets trickled through along with an increase in Black Redstart, Chiffchaff and Firecrest numbers. At sea the first Sandwich Terns arrived, while Brent Geese departed, at times in spectacular numbers, and the two Penduline Tits put in a final appearance at the ARC reedbed.
And so to April and the main spring passage period which for passerines was a faltering affair with poor numbers of certain migrants such as Willow Warbler and Whinchat, while Turtle Dove and Spotted Flycatcher were almost rarities. On the plus side Ring Ouzels were up in numbers and a Yellow-browed Warbler was found in the lighthouse garden. Around the bird reserve a one day Purple Heron proved popular as was an unprecedented influx of Black-winged Stilts with a flock of ten followed by a pair that lingered into May raising hopes of breeding as they commuted between the hayfields and Scotney. Offshore the seabird passage was well underway, although numbers of skuas, terns and waders were low to start with. However, this was more than compensated for by the Pomarine Skua passage that peaked in early May when over 100 individuals clipped the point delighting the many birders present on what was Bank Holiday Monday.
May delivered some cracking birds commencing with a Red-rumped Swallow and Montagu`s Harrier on the local patch at Lade, a Hooded Crow at Dungeness, then four Bee-eaters at St Marys-in-the-Marsh, a Great Reed Warbler at Tower Pits and a personal lifer in the form of a singing Blyth`s Reed Warbler on the margins of the Trapping Area. Terns eventually surged through providing a memorable spectacle when hundreds of Common, Arctic and Black Terns dropped onto the ARC lake. On Lade bay summer plumage Arctic waders paused a while including good numbers of Tundra Ringed Plovers and Sanderlings in breeding plumage. Around the peninsula more Bee-eaters were reported along with Wood Sandpipers, Honey Buzzard, a Crane and an all too brief Long-billed Dowitcher on Dengemarsh.
By and large the warm, dry summer weather was beneficial for breeding birds where across the wetlands grebes did particularly well, also Reed and Cetti`s Warblers and Bearded Tits. A Bittern `boomed` in Hookers reedbed and several `pairs` of Marsh Harriers were successful. Common Terns raised young on the Dengemarsh rafts and elsewhere Mediterranean Gulls nested within a Black-headed Gull colony. On the Desert scrub both Whitethroat and Cuckoo fared well. Around Dungeness power station site Black Redstarts, Raven and Peregrine all bred with varying degrees of success, while at Brett`s Marina a pair of Egyptian Geese raised young for the first time. The Lydd heronry attracted five pairs of Little Egrets, delighting those able to climb the church tower on open day and gaze down upon the nest site.
On the debit side Tree Sparrows and Corn Bunting just about maintained their slim status quo across the Marsh farmland, while waders such as Lapwing and Oystercatcher fell foul of increasing predation from crows, gulls, foxes and badgers. Along the foreshore breeding Ringed Plover and Wheatear suffered disturbance from the public and their dogs. The breeding picture was particularly gloomy on the arable hinterlands with traditional farmland birds such as Grey Partridge, Turtle Dove reduced to a mere handful in number.
The eagerly awaited return wader passage was something of a damp squid this summer due to stubbornly high water levels on the bird reserve with only a trickle of Little Stints and Curlew Sandpipers noted, and an absence of `peeps`; although a Red-necked Phalarope on ARC was well received by one and all. A Glossy Ibis reappeared and three Cattle Egrets heralded a profitable second half of the year for this former rarity.
As we moved into August passerine migration went into overdrive with large numbers of Sand Martins and Willow Warblers on the move and by the months end an unprecedented fall of warblers, chats and flycatchers across the peninsula. Within the mix were several Wrynecks, Barred, Wood and Melodious Warblers and a Red-backed Shrike, while at Cockles Bridge a juv Montagu`s Harrier performed well. The fun continued into September with Pied and Spotted Flycatchers recorded in the hundreds, plus a large influx of Buzzards and Kestrels.
Dungeness seawatchers enjoyed an autumn to remember with a record breaking run of Pomarine Skuas and Sooty Shearwaters, plus sub-rarities such as Sabine`s Gull, Leache`s Petrel and several each of Grey Phalarope and Long-tailed Skua. On the land October yielded large movements of Ring Ouzels and House Martins, plus several Yellow-browed Warblers and a showy Woodlark. A trip down to Castle Water delivered a stunning adult White-winged Black Tern.
Rarities into November included a Great Grey Shrike, that tarried all too briefly at Dungeness, and a Dartford Warbler at Galloways. On the negative side the overhead autumn passage of pipits, finches, buntings and larks was once again almost non existent, and Yellow Wagtails were low in number.
The year finished with Snow Buntings along the coast; Hen Harrier, wild swans and Bean Geese on Walland Marsh; Cattle and Great White Egrets on Dengemarsh; sawbills on the bird reserve, plus a Lesser Yellowlegs down at Pett Level.
During the course of the year we also made five day trips to northern France, enjoying such gems as Kentish Plover and Crested Lark along the coast; Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Crested Tit and Hen Harrier in Crecy; Bluethroat, White Stork and Black-winged Stilt in the Somme valley and seabirds at Cap-griz-nez. And I haven't even mentioned the butterflies, dragonflies, moths, wild flowers, mammals etc...
2014 certainly was a memorable year.
Sunday, 28 December 2014
An icy blast
Lade - 1000hrs - cold, sunny, ne 5 - Spent much of the morning working the local patch and along the bay where most birds were sheltering behind banks and bushes from the blasting wind coming off the sea. On south lake the long-staying duck Red-crested Pochard remained amongst the ducks and Coots, while a tit and Chiffchaff flock found shelter by the ponds and a Raven flew over calling.
Red-crested Pochard, Lade
Greatstone Beach - We checked the tideline for Snow Bunting without any joy, although it was busy with people out walking and enjoying the sunshine, despite the icy wind. Further south towards the Pilot the foreshore drew a blank for yesterdays Glaucous Gull.
Glove fence, Greatstone Beach
Dungeness - No sign here of it here too amongst the few roosting gulls, although there was a 3rd winter Caspian Gull amongst the Herring Gulls and Black-backs.
Lade - A late afternoon check of roosting gulls on the gravel pits at Kerton Road also drew a blank.
Greatstone Beach - We checked the tideline for Snow Bunting without any joy, although it was busy with people out walking and enjoying the sunshine, despite the icy wind. Further south towards the Pilot the foreshore drew a blank for yesterdays Glaucous Gull.
Dungeness - No sign here of it here too amongst the few roosting gulls, although there was a 3rd winter Caspian Gull amongst the Herring Gulls and Black-backs.
Lade - A late afternoon check of roosting gulls on the gravel pits at Kerton Road also drew a blank.
Saturday, 27 December 2014
Lesser Yellowlegs
Scotney Pits - cold, cloudy, nw 4 - 1030hrs - En-route to Rye a quick check of the pits from the road revealed the usual feral geese and two Black-necked Grebes, plus plenty of Wigeon and Lapwings on the grass,
Pett Levels - Initially our quarry wasn't showing so we parked at Toots Rock and walked down to Carter`s Flood checking the fields on the way, but there was little of note apart from Curlews, Redshanks, Lapwings, Wigeon, Common Gulls, five Blackwits, a Marsh Harrier, two Kestrels and several Dabchicks on the main road side pools. However, a call from OL told us that the Lesser Yellowlegs had reappeared further down the road towards Winchelsea Beach, but by the time we arrived it had flown off a short way. However, eventually it popped up from one of the field ditches alongside a couple of Redshanks and a pack of Wigeon where it gave distant, yet adequate, scope views. We didn't hang about long though as the biting northerly wind made for uncomfortable viewing, so we retired to the nearby café for tea and carrot cake, and very tasty it was too.
Walland Marsh - Crossing the Marsh on the way home delivered little apart from distant views of the wild swans and Bean Geese at Horse Bones farm, plus a couple of flocks of winter thrushes (mostly Fieldfares) and plenty of Blackbirds beside the lane.
Lade - News of a 1st winter Glaucous Gull heading our way (courtesy of PB) had us scurrying down the boardwalk to check the gulls flying down the beach, but it was not to be. Apparently, the bird had been seen this afternoon along the foreshore between the lifeboat station and opposite the Kerton Road junction of Coast Drive.
Anyhow I`m not complaining as Lesser Yellowlegs is a rare bird in these parts and another species to my extended `Marsh` bird list, not that I`m year listing of course...
Pett Levels - Initially our quarry wasn't showing so we parked at Toots Rock and walked down to Carter`s Flood checking the fields on the way, but there was little of note apart from Curlews, Redshanks, Lapwings, Wigeon, Common Gulls, five Blackwits, a Marsh Harrier, two Kestrels and several Dabchicks on the main road side pools. However, a call from OL told us that the Lesser Yellowlegs had reappeared further down the road towards Winchelsea Beach, but by the time we arrived it had flown off a short way. However, eventually it popped up from one of the field ditches alongside a couple of Redshanks and a pack of Wigeon where it gave distant, yet adequate, scope views. We didn't hang about long though as the biting northerly wind made for uncomfortable viewing, so we retired to the nearby café for tea and carrot cake, and very tasty it was too.
Walland Marsh - Crossing the Marsh on the way home delivered little apart from distant views of the wild swans and Bean Geese at Horse Bones farm, plus a couple of flocks of winter thrushes (mostly Fieldfares) and plenty of Blackbirds beside the lane.
Lade - News of a 1st winter Glaucous Gull heading our way (courtesy of PB) had us scurrying down the boardwalk to check the gulls flying down the beach, but it was not to be. Apparently, the bird had been seen this afternoon along the foreshore between the lifeboat station and opposite the Kerton Road junction of Coast Drive.
Anyhow I`m not complaining as Lesser Yellowlegs is a rare bird in these parts and another species to my extended `Marsh` bird list, not that I`m year listing of course...
Friday, 26 December 2014
Full suite of herons
Dengemarsh - cold, overcast, light airs - 1030hrs - On a murky, still morning Mrs PT joined us for a full circuit of Dengemarsh, during which time we clocked up all the herons, so`s to speak: Great White and Little Egrets, Grey Herons, a Bittern and distant views of the two Cattle Egrets sat on straw bales over by the town. Being as the reserve was closed we walked the track up past Boulderwall where there was no sign any Tree Sparrows on the feeders, just a few tits and Chaffinches. The fields, however, were full of Wigeon, Lapwing, Starlings and feral geese, plus several Marsh Harriers, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. Around the arable field margins a few Skylarks, Reed Buntings and Song Thrushes were disturbed, while the chicken sheds attracted a Black Redstart and several Pied Wagtails.
Tracking round via Springfield Bridge the hayfields and flood looked perfect for waders and wildfowl but there was not a single bird present. By the ramp Snipe, Grey Plover and Curlew called overhead, plus Bearded Tit, Chiffchaff and Cetti`s Warbler in the reedbeds, and that was about it really.
NB: Other local news today concerned the long staying wild swans and Bean Geese on Walland Marsh, plus a Lesser Yellowlegs down at Pett Levels (MH).
Tracking round via Springfield Bridge the hayfields and flood looked perfect for waders and wildfowl but there was not a single bird present. By the ramp Snipe, Grey Plover and Curlew called overhead, plus Bearded Tit, Chiffchaff and Cetti`s Warbler in the reedbeds, and that was about it really.
NB: Other local news today concerned the long staying wild swans and Bean Geese on Walland Marsh, plus a Lesser Yellowlegs down at Pett Levels (MH).
Thursday, 25 December 2014
Littlestone shorebirds
Lade - 0900hrs - mild, sunny, nw 2 - A cracking winters day with bright sunshine from the off, and as a result people out walking in droves. Just the same old stuff on the lakes, plus some good views of Chiffchaffs snapping up flying insects in the sun-trap by the ponds.
Grey Plovers and Sanderlings, Littlestone
Littlestone - 1100hrs - Mrs PT joined us for a pre-curry walk along the foreshore to St Mary`s Bay and back across the golf links. With the tide on the way in several hundred shorebirds were up on the shingle roosting (or trying to), mostly Sanderlings and Dunlins, plus 10 Ringed Plovers, 25 Grey Plovers, 12 Knots and 15 Turnstones. Every so often they were flushed by dog-walkers and flew out across the bay, glinting in tight formation before settling down once again. There was little to be seen on the golf links apart from a few Linnets and Mipits.
Santa`s all at sea...
Littlestone - 1100hrs - Mrs PT joined us for a pre-curry walk along the foreshore to St Mary`s Bay and back across the golf links. With the tide on the way in several hundred shorebirds were up on the shingle roosting (or trying to), mostly Sanderlings and Dunlins, plus 10 Ringed Plovers, 25 Grey Plovers, 12 Knots and 15 Turnstones. Every so often they were flushed by dog-walkers and flew out across the bay, glinting in tight formation before settling down once again. There was little to be seen on the golf links apart from a few Linnets and Mipits.
Wednesday, 24 December 2014
Guilty as charged
Lade - 1000hrs - mild, cloudy, drizzle, nw 2 - Spent the morning flogging the local patch where there was plenty on offer but nothing much new. Mockmill sewer, the scrub behind the `mirrors` and beside north pit was full of Blackbirds and a few Song Thrushes. Three Snipe were flushed from the sewer, while two Marsh Harriers and a Kestrel were hunting the fields by the airport where also two Stonechat, Skylarks and Mipits. The lakes held the usual waterfowl including Red Crested Pochard and Goldeneye.
We then cut down Seaview road to the dunes where a couple of birders had just reported the Snow Bunting further north on Greatstone Beach. However, scanning down that way I could see loads of dogs running along the tideline, and being a responsible dog owner I`d just have to say something and end up getting in a row, and we wouldn't want that, would we... so we chickened out and carried on south. With the tide up 20 Sanderlings and Turnstones scurried amongst the flotsam opposite the tavern, while 20 Knots and 10 Barwits roosted amongst the Oystercatchers. There was nothing much on the bay apart from a few gulls and Great Crested Grebes.
Jim the seaside cat - guilty as charged
Back home Mrs PT`s Jim, the seaside cat, was sitting on the lawn with a Collared Dove that he`d just lovingly murdered. Domestic cats are Britain`s most popular pet and there are millions of them, goodness only knows how many birds and mammals they kill, still its not their fault, they`re only doing what nature intended, and as usual its us humans that must take the blame.
Anyhow, that`s enough fighting talk for now, speaking of which, while we`re on the subject of unpopular predators (albeit a native avian one) we finished off the day from the Lade aerial mound where at least 41 Magpies came to roost in the willow swamp, and the sunset was pretty good too.
We then cut down Seaview road to the dunes where a couple of birders had just reported the Snow Bunting further north on Greatstone Beach. However, scanning down that way I could see loads of dogs running along the tideline, and being a responsible dog owner I`d just have to say something and end up getting in a row, and we wouldn't want that, would we... so we chickened out and carried on south. With the tide up 20 Sanderlings and Turnstones scurried amongst the flotsam opposite the tavern, while 20 Knots and 10 Barwits roosted amongst the Oystercatchers. There was nothing much on the bay apart from a few gulls and Great Crested Grebes.
Back home Mrs PT`s Jim, the seaside cat, was sitting on the lawn with a Collared Dove that he`d just lovingly murdered. Domestic cats are Britain`s most popular pet and there are millions of them, goodness only knows how many birds and mammals they kill, still its not their fault, they`re only doing what nature intended, and as usual its us humans that must take the blame.
Anyhow, that`s enough fighting talk for now, speaking of which, while we`re on the subject of unpopular predators (albeit a native avian one) we finished off the day from the Lade aerial mound where at least 41 Magpies came to roost in the willow swamp, and the sunset was pretty good too.
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