End of January at Sculcoates

 I'm going to keep visiting the Sculcoates patch, but I might give it a miss the weekend in the month when the Wetland Bird survey is scheduled, especially now that I'm walking to the three sites where I survey. This meant that I hadn't visited the patch for a couple of weeks. It was a sunny, cold but still morning and as I walked towards Sculcoates across Pearson Park I had this feeling of spring in the air, with a lot of bird activity and a lovely sunshine that felt warm in sheltered spots.

I counted the Black-headed Gulls at the playing fields: 117 with about 10 Common Gulls. Several Blackbirds fed on the grass near the fence with a single Redwing. 

Redwing and dew.

Robin.

It was low tide at the river and it was the turn of the Black-headed gulls bath, so no large gulls about. A Moorhen was by the bridge and a Cormorant on the barge's mast, with other fishing in the river. Four Redshank were visible on the mud.

Cormorant on mast.

A Grey Wagtail crossed the river and landed by the tannery, where it fed around a puddle, surrounded by litter.

Grey Wagtail.

Redshank bobbing.

A Magpie marriage. The pair at Sculcoates park were retouching their nest.

Next I visited the cemeteries. Song Thrushes were all in evidence, not only singing, but also feeding in the open. The last few months they have been hard to see. There were plenty of Greenfinches at the cemetery, with some indication of courtship.

Song Thrush.

Wren.

At the drain, the water was running quite fast. There seem to be a lot to eat there as there were many Mallard and Moorhen feeding on the water, plus a couple of shy Little Grebes.

Another Song Thrush.

The final surprise of the day, a Coot on the drain on the edge of the km2.

A total of 31 species for the day in a couple of hours visit to end the month of January in 35 species.