Tuesday 31 March 2020

Landshipping area this afternoon

This afternoon’s walk from home, via the upper Daugleddau shore to Coedcanlas and back along the country lanes, produced no obviously new arrivals on the migrant front.

Our local pair of greylags weren't to be seen anywhere along the shore, although much earlier in the day they had made their usual noisy morning flight over us towards the estuary. Several pairs of shelduck were feeding along the shore, all in similar locations to where we had seen them on previous days. There was also an additional flock 36 on the northern shore of the Eastern Cleddau, near Ferry cottages (opposite Landshipping slipway).

We couldn't find the four greenshanks that have been regularly at Landshipping Quay, perhaps these have moved on – no new waders up this end today - but well done to Richard, little ringed plover is a nice record for Carew Millpond.

Having assumed that teal numbers were declining in the area we counted 84 today resting on the mud and an extensive pile of bladder-wrack at Landshipping Quay – a similar number to that counted a week ago.



Fast asleep in the sunshine – the teal were surprisingly well-camouflaged on the shore, especially the females
It was certainly an afternoon for buzzards to be displaying over their woodland territories. At least 9 individuals were seen in an estimated 5 probable breeding territories. One of the local red kites was also hunting over the area for a short time.