Graham Brace and I with another friend spent the
afternoon wandering the Deer Park, checking out Marloes Mere and finally
walking along Pickleridge at the mouth of the Gann. Other than the odd
stonechat, very little to report on the Deer Park itself. A few grey
seals and a dolphin briefly showed themselves in Jack and a pair of red
throated divers flew south over the water as we walked around the
headland. Not a single chough to be seen and raptors were noticeably
absent throughout the afternoon.
Marloes Mere was more productive with several
pairs of shoveler, gadwall and a fine looking pintail drake as well as
larger numbers of teal, widgeon and mallard. The usual coot and moorhen
present as well as a couple of dabchicks.
The Gann turned up a pair of goldeneye as well as
teal, mallard and widgeon. There was a sizeable gull gathering around
the river outlets (mostly black headed) as well as numerous
oystercatchers and carrion crows Here too were at least four pale
bellied brents although in the fading afternoon light, there could have
been more. Over thirty snipe around the ponds as well as a single
greenshank, several redshanks and a couple of dabchicks. Small group of
turnstones on the tideline and two G.C. grebes in the bay and one G.N.
Diver. A small raft of widgeon seen towards Monk Haven. Unidentified
warbler in the thorn bushes along Pickleridge.
Altogether, a good afternoon’s selection.
(Graham Stephens)