So much to see. So little time.

Spent a small chunk of this afternoon (a long dinnertime, don't worry I made up the time this evening.....) at Crossens and Marshside. The big tide was just dropping and huge numbers of birds were flighting about the place and just waiting to be looked at. I was keen to see the recently reported short-eared owls, I wasn't disappointed, I saw three. Other predators seen were a peregrine, a sparrowhawk and a kestrel. 19 little egrets were roosting on Sutton's marsh, with three more on the outer marsh, where a stoat managed to swim to safety. A great deal of pink-foot movment was happening with c. 6500 on the edge of Crossens outer, 2300 on Crossens inner and 1650 on Sutton's marsh. A single barncle goose was with the pinks and a leucistic pink-foot (see Ribble estuary nature facebook page for some photos) was noted, as was an individual with an all pink bill and neck collar TNS. Numerous black-tailed godwits included two very showy colour-ringed birds and 15 ruff were busily feeding amongst in the flock on Sutton's marsh. If you visit Marshside in the afternoon do try to walk along the seawall (try accessing from Dawlish Drive), the views of the birds really are amazing. Plenty of sunshine, black clouds and rainbows. If only I had more time.

 A couple of blinged black-tailed godwits on Sutton's marsh this afternoon

 

A pair of pink-feet enjoying the sunshine on Sutton's marsh this afternoon

 

Sutton's marsh is a grazed, wet, bird filled paradise