Spent this morning exploring the area just east of Longhaugh Point. Weather was mixed, but mostly bright and calm. However I was hoping the overnight wind and rain might have moved some birds into the area.
The walk down to the shore passed through trees still almost completely green. However the hedgerows are starting to look a bit tatty, with greys and browns the dominant colours. Once on the shore, the best colour was provided by a couple of patches of Sea Aster (see photos above). The tide was well in, so wading birds were concentrated on a narrow, reed-covered, mud spit to the east of where we were (see photo). Through the telescope we could see Lapwings, Oystercatchers, Redshanks and Dunlins (plus a few Common and Black headed Gulls) all feeding busily. A few Cormorants flew up and down river, but the most amazing sight (and sound) was a skein of around 50 geese (Greylags/ Pinkfeet?) which flew low over our heads and across the river.
Walked back via a large reedbed and some open fields (see photo). A couple of Blackbirds, a Song Thrush and a possible female Blackcap played hide-and-seek in the hawthorn bushes. They were so timid, I wondered if they were new arrivals. Once out in the open fields, saw one (and possibly another) Wheatear which flitted ahead of us (again, likely to be a migrant). Back on the tree-lined path, noticed lots of very active small land birds including Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wren, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Song Thrush and Dunnock. Also a pair of Buzzards soaring just above the tree tops.
Overall, a picture of frantic activity - no doubt prompted by the inevitable approach of winter (and the need to establish feeding territories and / or build up fat reserves) but possibly also triggered by the arrival of passage birds. Good to spend a morning out in the fresh air in the middle of it all.