A Couple of Hours on the Beach at Mistley

25th February 2020

Our first visit to Mistley this winter as it had not been possible to get the right combination of tides and weather. The horrendous fence is still in place at The Quay, but it didn't matter too much as it was very quiet with no Goldeneye at all (that must be a first) and the few Pintail present were asleep on the mud-bank. However, what appears to be the now resident 3CY Mediterranean Gull was not only present but also being very cooperative. What a poser!!

Down by The Walls the usual flock of Mute Swans were around the beach with one or two individuals begging for food on the pavement. Today they were joined by three Black Swans to add a little biodiversity

Gulls were well represented with plenty of Black-headed Gulls feeding on the mud..........

...............and here is a trio of Common Gulls with adults as book-ends and a 2CY in the middle.

There were a few Herring Gulls around but only these two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a 3CY and an adult.

The local Jackdaws often venture on to the beach for a bit of seafood which they find by turning over the seaweed, just like Turnstones.

Waders were in very short supply today. There was a flock of 200 Avocet present but they confined themselves to the north bank, and the only other waders they came close were Black-tailed Godwits and Redshanks.

The vast majority of ducks were Pintail and Shelduck and we mustn't complain about that. The male Pintails are absolutely stunning at this time of year in their full breeding attire and for some reason they are much tamer at Mistley than elsewhere.

But the stars of the show today were the large numbers of Shelduck bobbing around on the river and getting closer and closer as the tide came in. Also, the incoming tide produces a lot of movement resulting in  some opportunities for some flight shots

Well, a little quieter than usual and less diversity, but Mistley never disappoints and we will be back next year.