So today a strong, biting wind combined with overcast dull skies have rather stopped play. It is horrible outside! However dad and I found the motivation to brave Melton for a couple of hours.
There was virtually no sign of any passerines in the bushes around the car park which was surprising so we headed straight towards Wilford Bridge where, when we looked over the river for the first time, we were greeted by
oystercatchers,
redshanks and
dunlin.
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| Oystercatcher - Melton - Apr. 2013 - Mike Ixer |
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| Common Redshank - Melton - Apr. 2013 - Mike Ixer |
We popped over the bridge where the wind seemed to double in ferocity. The wind-battering we received was worth it for a brief flash of a
kingfisher, a
little egret also struggling in the wind and a pair of
great crested grebes on the fishing lakes.
Back over the bridge and a flock of
dunlin started to creep towards us feeding quickly as they marched over the exposed mud.
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| Dunlin - Melton - Apr. 2013 - Mike Ixer |
Other waders that we encountered were
grey plovers,
turnstones,
ringed plovers, a
common snipe and
curlews.
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| Curlew - Melton - Apr. 2013 - Mike Ixer |
There were also a number of
black-tailed godwits that joined the party as we were leaving. It was interesting to see them in different stages of moult. Below is my guess at gender but if you know better than myself feel free to correct me.
Adult male almost completely moulted into summer plumage:
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| Black-Tailed Godwit - Melton - Apr. 2013 - Mike Ixer |
Adult male starting moult into summer plumage:
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| Black-Tailed Godwit - Melton - Apr. 2013 - Mike Ixer |
Adult female barely starting summer moult:
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| Black-Tailed Godwit - Melton - Apr. 2013 - Mike Ixer |
Group of godwits feeding and bathing:
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| Black-Tailed Godwits - Melton - Apr. 2013 - Mike Ixer |
Final birds of note were a few
common gulls that were hanging on, a large group of
wigeon also hanging around and three very pale looking wagtails that flew overhead - potentially
white wagtails.
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