It was nice to get back to the Carew/Cresswell and
Daugleddau this morning to undertake WeBS counts again. Numbers of waterfowl
had dropped significantly, as expected by mid-March. Wigeon numbers had dropped
to 25 at Garron Pill with none seen on the Carew/Cresswell. Teal numbers were
below 100 in the Carew/Cresswell system, there were c.30 at Garron Pill and about
100 resting in Millars Park lagoon, a regular spot for them on a high tide.
Shelduck numbers were reasonable, with a mixture of feeding flocks and pairs close
to breeding areas. There were about 70 on the Carew/Cresswell, 22 on the Daugleddau
section and another 20 at Landshipping.
35 oystercatchers were roosting in their usual
spot at Lawrenny Quay. There were very few curlews seen in the estuary areas
that we covered today (less than 50), but redshank numbers were quite good: at
least 66 within the Carew/Cresswell system, 18 on the Daugleddau and 36 at Landshipping.
Greenshank numbers were low, only 3 observed in the Carew/Cresswell and another
at Landshipping. Dunlin (32) were restricted to the Cresswell River where there
was also a mixed roost of 15 grey plovers and redshanks. There were a few little
egrets and grey herons around, the latter including birds probably heading back
to the Upton heronry. A kingfisher was nice to see flashing past near Black
Mixen.
