10 Oct 17

Wakeham

This morning 2 Siskins over and a Chiffchaff calling from the Sycamore at the back of the garden.

Ferrybridge

As the tide ebbed away so about 600 Dark-bellied Brent Geese dropped down right in front of the Chesil Beach Centre. Unfortunately a dog got a bit too close and they took off and landed closer the bridge. In amongst them at least 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese.

Also on the sand bar 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Dunlin and 2 Oystercatchers. Overhead a small party of Starlings came through and carried on down Chesil towards Portland.

Here are a few images and videos from today:

Just a few of the Dark-bellied Brent Geese at Ferrybridge this afternoon.

I estimated around 600 birds.

Here's another selection.

A dog walker put them up, but they soon came back down.

A short video of a few of the geese here on Ferrybridge.

In the foreground what I think are Bar-tailed Godwits, centre an Oystercatcher and the geese at the rear.

A very vocal Oystercatcher.

In the breeding season the bill is bright orange and in the winter turns very dullish.

Here it probes for bivalves, including cockles and mussels. Despite its name it doesn't eat oysters.

A Dunlin, without its black belly patch.

I was a bit confused at first and then realised that this is almost certainly a juvenile.

At this time of year adults lose the black belly plumage but are also a lot greyer. A good example of this is on John Betts Blog Here.

A small flock of Starlings were on a mission by the looks of it as they came steaming through over the mud flats.

A Dunlin works its way along the mud flats in front of the Chesil Beach Centre