Farlington 25th Feb 2008

The weather was cloudy and mild. Highlights were Avocet, Water Rail and Goldeneye.

As we walked to the sea wall a Song Thrush was singing in the bushes. A couple of Woodpigeon were sitting atop the bushes while a Moorhen fed on the grass beneath them. Out on the mudflats were several Shelduck, Redshank, Brent Geese, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull and a few Oystercatcher, Grey Plover and Curlew. The lake surrounded by reeds had a large flock of Lapwing on its muddy edges and a few Black-tailed Godwit. About 20 Snipe were feeding around the edges of the lake and a Cetti’s Warbler sang. There were a few hundred Brent Geese on the lake and every now and then a load more ould come flying in and twist their way down to the lake. As we walked towards the viewing are for the lake I heard a Bearded Tit calling. We stood and waited for it to come out. A Water Rail skulked through the reeds close by and a Reed Bunting fed briefly on a reed. Skylarks sang overhead, but no sign of the Bearded Tit except a brief far off view by Tracy. Looking at the mudflats again there were loads of Wigeon, some Teal and quite a lot of Pintail all feeding fairly close by. Dennis then found a single Avocet on the mudflats quite a way off.
Further round the walk there were plenty of Canada Geese and a few more Wigeon in the wet fields as well as a flock of Starling. On the mudflats flocks of Dunlin and a few more Grey Plover were feeding. Further round still and we saw about 3 Goldeneye on the sea and a couple of Great-crested Grebe as well as loads more Pintail and Wigeon. The wet fields and lakes had more Teal, Wigeon and Pintail with some Shoveler and Tufted Ducks amongst them. A Little Grebe was in the ditch just beside us. We got to the information hut and waited for Bearded Tit again, but with no luck. There were just some Teal and a few Black-tailed Godwit.
Simon Curson