Wasted Wood Sands

The Safari set off to Patch 1 on another beautiful, mild summer’s dawn with a definite autumnal feel to it. There was a low haze silhouetting the trees in the near distance against an empty pale red sky – a heavy dew carpeted the grass of the small field.
Not a lot about, no Peregrines on the water tower again, no sign of the Sparrowhawks either but they had been about as a pile of plucked Woodpigeon feathers were strewn across the path. A Robin ‘tic’d’ from the bushes and a Wren sang a subdued song.
Still nothing of migrant note…
Walking up the path alongside the Golden Triangle we heard another Robin 'tic'ing and the season’s first snatch of their winter song, like the Wren it was a quiet subdued affair but confirmation that it is definitely getting towards autumn if said season isn’t already upon us.
Patch 2 was similarly autumnal with our first two returning Redshanks whipping along the tide line to the muddy patch by the outfall pipe.
After two days of light winds we can clearly see the shoals and sand bars way beyond the low water mark although there are no terns fishing over them this morning.
Scanning back to the outfall pipe we note a Great Black Backed Gull stood on it, an unusual occurrence, and below it on the mud is a Patch 2 goody – a summer plumaged, still all russety, Bar Tailed Godwit.

A concerted gawp at the sea didn’t give us much but after yesterday’s bizarre blank a Grey Seal was found, sadly no Harbour Porpoises though – conditions for seeing them being excellent. Two Gannets drifted north on outstretched wings against the breeze at distance, a few Sandwich Terns left the estuary area and headed out to sea, one came inshore and landed on the beach, and two groups of Common Scoters, three and four were seen in flight. Should have been better!!!

No lunchtime visit as we had to be at home waiting for an electrician, between 12 and 5.00 they say...no chance of him coming early then and us getting some twitching time - Wood Sandpiper not too far away, certainly within striking distance for a short afternoon's safari.

So while we waited and waited and waited we noticed an adult Goldfinch and dull faced juvenile feeding on Ragwort seeds at the far end of Base Camp's garden so we had a go at digiscoping them through the dirty sitting room window from the comfort of the 'puter desk.

The blurry yellow flower is that great moth attractor Evening Primrose.

Where to next? More patchy stuff.

In the meantime let us know what's spreading the 'weed' seeds in your outback.