 |
| Roe Deer - female |
The
last Sunday bird walk of 2017 coincided with the first full moon of
winter (at 15.47) which would produce a tidal range of nearly 3m during
the day (09.53/3.39m; 15.49/0.52m). This December's full moon, besides
always being known as the "Cold Moon", qualified as a "supermoon"
because of the satellite's proximity to Earth (perigee). With a light NW
wind it was appreciably milder than of late when Brian + 7 set off in a
SW direction to the Old Salt Buildings before joining the footpath that
would take the party N along the sea wall to Normandy Marsh/Lagoon.
The route encompassed Moses Dock, Salterns Marsh/Lagoon, 8 Acre Pond,
Maiden Dock and Oxey Lake, returning to Maiden Lane via Pinckney Path
and Normandy Lane. During this time there was little apparent movement
in the tide level so no mud flats had been exposed.
SELECTED SIGHTINGS/OBSERVATIONS
 |
| Little Egret |
Footpath to the Old Salt Buildings: female Roe Deer; Jay; Goldfinch; Redwing (individuals and small flocks).
Footpath
to Moses Dock sluice gate: Dark-bellied Brent Geese; Canada Geese;
Common Polypody (Polypodium vulgare); Kestrel over Pennington Marsh; met
noted local ornithologist Marcus Ward who had no unusual sightings to
report (he had seen a flock of Fieldfare earlier in the day though).
Salterns Marsh/Lagoon: Wigeon ♀; Common Redshank; Black-tailed Godwit; Shoveler ♂♀; Shelduck; Kingfisher.
8 Acre Pond: Mallard ♂♀; Little Grebe; Little Egret; Grey Heron; Great Black-backed Gull; Herring Gull; Coot.
Oxey Lake: Goldeneye 2♀; a Common Seal surfaced frequently before a paddle-boarder got too close.
 |
| Avocets at Normandy Lagoon |
Normandy
Marsh/Lagoon: Avocet (10+ in 2 groups); Red-breasted Merganser
(4); Spotted Redshank (4); Greenshank (2): several Kingfishers; Stonechat ♂♀; Lapwing; Dunlin; Tufted Duck: Teal; Pintail; Oystercatcher;
Turnstone; Cormorant (10+).
Normandy
Lane: The fragrant, pink-lilac flower heads of Winter Heliotrope
(Petasites fragrans); Hartstongue fern (Phyllitis scolopendrium).
The highlight of the morning was probably the sheer variety of activity to be seen on Normandy Lagoon. (BM) All photos ©
Richard Smith