We made a pre-lockdown visit to
Angle Bay yesterday afternoon, the tide was ebbing, so we didn't get
particularly close views of anything. 52 Pale-bellied Brents were starting to
feed on the eel-grass (Zostera) as the tied dropped. Further out were large
flocks of wigeon (more than 1,000) plus a few Pintails amongst them but they
were not easy to pick out in the constantly moving duck flocks. At least four
Great Crested Grebes were feeding in the bay.
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| 1000+ Wigeon were in the air at one time. At least one Pintail was evident in this part of the flock |
A usual mixture of waders feeding on the shore included: 50+ Dunlin, 3 Knot, 2-3 Sanderlings, several Turnstones, 20+ Redshanks, 100+ Curlews (most of these still at their usual roost area), c.100 Oystercatchers and at least 9 Bar-tailed Godwits.
Over at the harbour-end there was a similar range of waders plus two Greenshanks and 36 Mute Swans (no Whoopers over there yet). Colour-ringed Curlew (24) was feeding in its usual spot. A couple of Shelducks had also returned to the area.
It will have to be local walks to Landshipping and nearby for the next couple of weeks. Perhaps a cycle ride might be possible to Minwear, to see if the Starling roost in Slebech reedbed is starting to build up.