February WeBS Count whilst Storm Ciara blows through

c75 Kittiwake were milling about the estuary after peak high tide today.

The February Wetland Bird Survey was fairly challenging in gale force winds and horizontal rain yesterday (Sunday 9th February), many birds were sheltering behind hedges, banks and bunds or sensibly skulking in the ditches. The overall count may have been lower due to the weather conditions. The Tack Piece was looking good by midday, very busy with birds. The following counts were made.

177 Mute Swan,
73 Bewick's Swan (some had departed since last week with a further drop to 61 by 10th February, none arrrived for the 1600hrs feed yesterday with only 11 present at 1800hrs, a single birds was on the Rushy at 0800hrs this morning, the rest were on the Tack Piece or Dumbles.
Russian White-fronted Geese- 89 on the WeBS count, 84 on Tack Piece with 17 present today. Other small parties were in the Ox Piece and Stall House Ground.
Greenland White-fronted Geese- two juveniles on the Tack Piece early yesterday.
310 Greylag
471 Canada Geese
215 Barnacle Geese
399 Shelduck
2133 Wigeon
77 Gadwall
380 Teal
775 Mallard
457 Pintail
263 Shoveler
161 Pochard
406 Tufted Duck
female Goldeneye (Long Ground Pool on 9th February)
Great Crested Grebe (singles on the South Lake and Long Ground Pool)
3 Little Grebe
16 Cormorant
1 Cattle Egret
9 Little Egret
6 Grey Heron
5 Water Rail
70 Moorhen
64 Coot
17 Oystercatcher
12 Avocet
35 Golden Plover
1517 Lapwing
850 Dunlin
52 Redshank
280 Black-tailed Godwit
202 Curlew
14 Snipe
16 Ruff

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