A pre-work and post-work look off Maer Rocks today produced 5 Red-throated Divers, 13 Brent Geese, 4 diver sp, 1 male Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Great Northern Diver, at least 9 Purple Sandpipers, 1 Yellow-legged Gull and my first Fulmar of the year, heading distantly south.
Off Mudbank - 6+ Great Crested Grebes, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 5 Pintail and, on Cockle Sands, 111 Grey Plovers, 50 Knot and 5 Sanderling. Really good to meet Phil today.
A 'last knockings' look off Shelly Beach revealed the Slavonian Grebe (off Cockwood), 3 Red-breasted Mergansers and 165+ Dark-bellied Brent Geese.
A couple days ago, on the 19th, a dawn sea-watch from the raised beach huts produced 23+ Red-throated Divers, c100+ Gannet, several Kittiwakes, 3 Great Northern Divers and 2 diver sp. Off Mudbank - 70 Shelducks and 10 Wigeon.
Nice photos of a smart gull, Matt. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteHi Gav - many thanks. I'm pretty sure I overlook first-winter birds at this time of year so it was good to grill this one. Not a stand-out bird and more obvious in flight than on the deck. Would've preferred a Caspian but pleased, all the same, to see this one. All the best. Matt
DeleteGreat to meet you Mat I watched the Kingfisher fishing after youleft plus m&f merganzers.
ReplyDeleteHi Phil - many thanks for your comment. It's nice to have that Kingfisher around - it shows really well. Occasionally there are two birds off there but have only seen the one recently. All the best. Matt
DeleteHi Matt, lovely shots of a classy looking bird - nice to know they're around even in winter, thought Cornwall got them all!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tim - yep winter records locally seem few and far between but I'm sure they're overlooked. I picked this one up in flight initially - not sure I'd have looked too hard at it had it been stood out on the estuary somewhere...
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you as always. All the best. Matt