24 members rose early and met at the start of the Camel Trail in Wadebridge. We walked along the trail to opposite the Burniere hide and back before driving round to the CBWPS hides at Burniere and Walmsley. There we were met by the warden, Adrian Langdon, who joined us later in the hide and proved an excellent host.
Because the group was too large for the Tower hide we split into two groups having lunch in the two hides. The extra visit to Burniere provided beautiful views across the saltmarshes to the estuary and spectacular displays of thousands of Golden Plover wheeling in the bright winter sunlight. The walk to Tower hide disturbed a Brown Hare that entertained the group by racing back and forth across the fields.
Some of the group then went on to Chapel Amble (extra species seen marked with asterisk below).
Among the abundance of 71 species were the rarities of Whooper Swan, Greater Scaup, Spoonbill and Siberian Chiffchaff.
Spoonbill preening, lapwing in the sunshine
Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal, Greater Scaup [F], Tufted Duck, Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Spoonbill [A], Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover [3000?], Lapwing, Knot, Dunlin, Green Sandpiper*, Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Dove /Feral Pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Water Pipit*, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Song Thrush, Redwing, Blackbird, Chiiffchaff, Siberian Chiffchaff*, Goldcrest, Wren, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch
Brown Hare
Phil Stevens, Photos by Dave Batten
