Late yesterday afternoon we managed to do a late Sept high tide count of waterfowl for the WeBS and an evening count of roosting gulls for the Winter Gull Survey (WinGS).
Roosting gull numbers were very disappointing (14 Black-headed, 9
Herring and 2 LBB). Four Med gulls had been present before dusk but these (and almost
all of an initial c.120 Herring Gulls that had been feeding in ploughed fields
near the bay) left to roost elsewhere.
However, there was a reasonable variety of waterfowl, including: 4 (probably recently arrived) Light-bellied Brent Geese, 29 Mute Swans (only one full grown cygnet), c.230 Wigeon, a few Mallards, 7 Pintails (all immature/female types), 11 Great Crested Grebes, c.180 Oystercatchers, 1 Grey Plover, 3 Ringed Plover (we noted 30+ roosting near the Point House c.10 days ago), c.190 Curlews, 10 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 12 Redshanks, but only 2 Dunlins seen. A Gannet was feeding in the bay when we arrived. Little Egret numbers, roosting around the bay in small groups, had increased from 28 10 days ago to 32 by yesterday. Small numbers of alba Wagtails included at least 10 White. Cetti's Warblers were singing well in the reedbed at dusk. A passing female sparrowhawk might have disturbed 100s of mixed corvids before they headed off to roost.
There was quite a nice sunset to end the day, just very few roosting gulls!
The official WinGS roost counts should actually be this evening, but the forecast does not look particularly suitable!
Evening roost counts for WinGS can still be undertaken during
the following week, up until 6th October. There are still vacant
sites available on the coast should anyone wish to help with the survey.