Death and new life

The Safari went to the wall this morning as usual and peered over at the wide swathe of sand in the dull early morning light. The tide was well out and a quick scan of the very lumpy sea didn’t give us anything other than a few Common Scoters and Cormorants.

The beach was more interesting with a count of 89 Oystercatchers and we’d already noted the large number of Sanderlings in amongst them.

But wait what was that dirty white lump lying on the sand not far off the water’s edge – part of another dead sheep? Three were washed up on our southern border at the weekend, probably victims of the floods in North Wales last week.

With the tide on the turn we scuttled back to the office for our wellies and camera while there was still time before the tide reached whatever it was.

It took a few minutes to cross the beach where we noted good numbers of Common Otter Shells lying on the sand – always just one of the valves we never ever find them sill joined together. As we neared the dead thing it was obviously now a bird and not a mammal or part thereof. It turned out to be an adult Great Black Backed Gull.

These are big birds close up; those wings are not fully outstretched and still measure 45 inches (1m 15) across. 

And that beak is hefty piece of weaponry; no wonder they are able to tear Wigeon limb from limb while they are still alive – never a pretty sight to witness.

We didn’t get to count the Sanderlings in the end.

At lunchtime the tide was almost full and the sea just as rough if not rougher. We didn’t see anything other than similar numbers of Cormorants and Common Scoters that we’d noted on the morning’s watch.

It was on the way back in to the office we spotted something that we hadn’t expected at all, we checked another location and sure enough the same thing was happening there too.

What is it that we’re on about? Flippin Daffodils starting to show, that’s what! – do they think winter is over? What’s going on? Do they know something we don’t? Is winter over? What do you think?

Where to next? Might be a nice day tomorrow and we have a site visit in the afternoon.

In the meantime let us know what's lying around in your outback.