WeBS

Full coverage of the estuary with Alan and Laurie this morning produced 106 Oystercatchers, 36 Turnstones, 25 Curlew, 12 Redshanks, five Greenshanks, two Common Sandpipers, 48 Shelducks, 19 Red-breasted Mergansers, nine Mute Swans, eight Mallards, four Canada Geese, six Cormorants, five Shags, two Little Grebes, two Great Crested Grebes, 330 Herring Gulls, 160 Black-headed Gulls, four Great Black-backed Gulls, four Common Gulls, eight Little Egrets, a Grey Heron and a Kingfisher. 

Turnstones

Rock Pipit

Grey Seal

All photos by Alan Ford

Two weeks ago, a belated February count was undertaken on the last day of the month (after the BTO confirmed that surveys could continue in lockdown) despite a great deal of disturbance in fine conditions. Totals included 174 Oystercatchers, 30 Turnstones, 49 Curlew, eight Greenshanks, 20 Shelducks, 20 Red-breasted Mergansers, nine Mute Swans, six Mallards, 10 Little Egrets, 10 Cormorants, three Shags, 240 Black-headed Gulls, 220 Herring Gulls, 16 Common Gulls, 16 Great Black-backed Gulls, a Kingfisher, a Great Crested Grebe and a Snipe.