17:30 > 19:00
20c broken cloud, sunny spell, nw breeze.
Water, water everywhere (and even a Yellow Legged Gull)
A lot sooner than I expected (see below ad naseum) they have started to flood the landscaped area i.e. what was the main body of water and the gravel island area in a previous life. Indeed it was water being held back in an ever deepening inlet that has been relaesed by a small channel cut into the wall and what an area it has created (pictures tomorrow hopefully).
There is anow a large figure of eight are covering probably a fifth of the area here (and yes 'Godwit Corner' was one of the first to fill) and i'd expect it to go up more in the coming days. and for the grand opening in amongst 80 Black Headed Gulls, 22 Lesser Black Backed Gull and a single pink legged Herring Gull was its southern cousin a clear cut Yellow Legged Gull. It was a camera opportunity missed, all three species side by side in the evening sun.
Oddly seeing the range of waders that were being drawn into what were little more than puddles lately the ever growing expanse of water and shoreline not a single wader was seen but surely that will change in the coming days given how the place looks.
In the pools left in the draining inlet a handful of Grey Heron were having a feast on trapped fish joined later by two Little Egret. The Sandmartin colony must have been wondering what was happening, a few feet of water outside the front door on Tuesday, today an inch or two. Along the river, where clearance of the temporary banking now gives clear close up views from the north side, were both Greater Spotted Woodpecker and a family group of Green Woodpecker.
On leaving a very Arctic looking Tern dropped and settled by the shore in but im not 100% on ID due to range.
Things are definitely looking up.
Links:
Yellow Legged Gull - Birdguides
Yellow Legged Gull - BTO
Yellow Legged Gull - Wiki
Yellow Legged Gull - RSPB
This time last year...
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