This morning’s WeBS counts around the Carew/Cresswell and Daugleddau/Landshipping areas produced fairly moderate numbers of waterfowl. Most of those wigeon there seems to be only one left 53 mentioned in Carew/Cresswell and 22 that Landshipping. Teal the numbers are higher, with c. 175 (most of them in New Shipping) and 182 that Landshipping. 75 shelduck in Carew/Cresswell the total is relatively low. A single great crested grebe feeds the Daugleddau channel opposite Sam’s Wood.
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| Some of the 182 teal at Landshipping Quay, feeding fervently in the shallows (possibly fattening up before migrating?) |
Numbers of curly is relatively low (56) as in redshank (<30) that was the lowest February WeBS total for redshank since 2018. Only 2 greenshanks was seen today and has no gray plovers at their usual roost site. A small herd of c.90 lapwings moved back and forth, as they often did, between the Cresswell and Carew Rivers.
A number of other waders are a bit better, 83 oystercatchers roosted at Lawrenny but the total here was less than last month. No sign of a color-ringed bird from Gann that was here in January. About 400 dunlin is in New Shipping at least 80 black-tailed godwits in Radford Pill. A likely 2CY male peregrine was hunting over the Carew River, scattering teal and dunlin for a while.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve noticed reasonably large numbers of winter thrushes (mostly fieldfare) feeding in the damp pasture between Tedion Mountain and Curly Wells Bridge. Now, a little further south, a herd at least 500 fieldfares (possibly both birds?) feeding on grass and/or resting in trees between Deal Cross Roads and Newton Lane. Numbers or red wing of them is quite small, probably less than 50.
