During low-tide counts on the Carew-Cresswell estuary complex there were quite good numbers of birds in view along the muddy channel edges this morning as the tide started to rise. Duck numbers were generally high, including for example: about 1,000 wigeon (a good count for this section); 600+ teal (also quite a reasonable count). Waders included more than 600 lapwings; about 700 dunlin and about 125 redshank (a fairly high count).
At the mouth of Ford Pill a small number of highly mobile teal also included a fine drake green-winged teal that was feeding along the channel edge near Hakin Point with 11 normal (Eurasian) teal. After watching them for several minutes, the flock was spooked by something and they all flew downstream towards New Shipping Point. Only 2 greenshanks were seen today and no golden plovers yet.
