Wednesday, 23 October 2024

High Tide at Old Hall Marshes

17th October 2024

It was a very high high tide today and although it wasn't until 12.30pm, most of the mud was already covered when we arrived at 10.30am. Passerines seemed to be a bit thin on the ground with just a handful of Sky Larks and Reed Buntings, and a pair of Stonechats that didn't fancy having their photo taken. Luckily this female Reed Bunting posed against the Phragmites heads.


We haven't been to Old Hall for a couple of years and hadn't seen Great White Egrets there before, but now they are appearing everywhere. Just the two today.


Not too many duck and mainly Shoveler, Wigeon and Teal, and nice to see most of them out of eclipse plumage.










Just a few Redshank, mostly singletons feeding on the disappearing mud.






There were about 40 Avocets present but all keeping to the far side of the creek.


Probably the most numerous wader today was the Ringed Plover with about 200 wheeling around the pools on the short walk. Here they are joined by a single Dunlin, bottom left.










But the stars of the show today were one of my favourite waders, the Grey Plover, with many singles sprinkled around the remaining islands.






This is an adult moulting out of its summer plumage.






And one waving goodbye.


Well, lovely to be at Old Hall Marshes again and nice to bump into Paul Rowe.









No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.