Page 11 - Out Birding Winter 2023

Sandwich Tern feeding in the shallows, whilst some spectacular flocks of Gannet were diving in the distance. Guillemot and Razorbill, flightless at this 􏰀me of year, were sca􏰁ered all over and included at least a few that were a􏰁ending a chick. A big ra􏰂 of Common Scoter was distant in the haze and too far away to scru􏰀nise and a single Red-throated Diver flew past while we scanned.
As we sat on the beach ea􏰀ng lunch, we looked through the Ki􏰃wakes and Black- headed Gulls and managed to pick out our target for the day – Li􏰁le Gull. As we watched, a group of five flew passed us up the beach giving lovely views. We hoped they were going to land on the lagoon but unfortunately, they must have kept going.
Con􏰀nued scanning picked out a li􏰁le group of Arc􏰀c Tern res􏰀ng on the sea’s sur- face. Then out of nowhere a dark phase Arc􏰀c Skua suddenly appeared close at hand and which we later saw harassing the terns.
A􏰂er the walk along the beach, a café stop for tea and cake was in order before we made our final stop at the Eden Estuary Centre. The 􏰀de was low so most birds were distant, but Eider were feeding in the channel below us and Lapwing and Redshank were just the other side. Amongst the distant waders were some s􏰀ll red-plumaged Knot and Black-tailed Godwit. Four Li􏰁le Egret were also easy to pick out.
Just as we were about to call it a day, an Osprey came over high and slowly dri􏰂ed off along the estuary. A nice end to an enjoyable day. Many thanks to Rachael, Neil and Colin for joining me.
Graeme
RSPB Blackto􏰂 Sands 12/08/2023
Five of us a􏰁ended this annual event to wader watch at Blackto􏰂 and there was a good selec􏰀on for us to browse through. We began at the new hide, Reedling, as we had been told that a Bi􏰁ern dropped in a few minutes earlier but it didn’t put in an appearance. Here we had our first sigh􏰀ng of a juvenile Marsh Harrier. A Great White Egret was directly in front of the hide and double figures of Li􏰁le Egret.
Marshland was our next stop and here we had a wader feast with Avocet, Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Ruff, Snipe, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank and Spo􏰁ed Redshank. Kerry found a couple of Bearded Tit in the reeds. From a birding perspec􏰀ve, the view from Ousefleet hide, our next stop, is always unproduc􏰀ve as the area reverts to grazing marsh in the summer but, on the lagoon just outside the hide, we saw some of the 100+ Gadwall counted on the reserve earlier together with families of Li􏰁le Grebe and Mute Swan.
We had lunch in the picnic area. This gave our new member, Kahn, on her first event, the opportunity to get to know us a li􏰁le more as we discussed possible events for 2024.
Back to business then as we explored the eastern half of the reserve. We didn’t see any new birds but we all commented on the sheer number of Li􏰁le Egret we were
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