Wader numbers too, were down on December counts, with only c.700 dunlin on the Carew/Cresswell, a couple of hundred lapwings and no obvious golden plovers at all. There seemed to be no sign of any grey plovers this morning - usually a regular species in small numbers in the area. There were only five black-tailed godwits obvious at Cosheston Pill this morning (last Sunday there were 30+). Annie recorded 3 ringed plovers along the Daugleddau, where they seem to have become less regular in recent years.
Along the Carew/Cresswell shore as the tide dropped, some lapwings appeared to be resting in very narrow drainage slits in the mud - possibly sheltering from the wind, or maybe just trying to maintain a low profile to keep out of the way of aerial predators?
As well as a few buzzards and a sparrowhawk, a rather scruffy-looking immature female peregrine was hunting over the estuary. Having failed to catch teal/wigeon after at least one attempt, she landed briefly on a rock at the edge of the saltmarsh.
There's possibly been a small influx of winter thrushes to this area - mainly fieldfares. Small flocks of 30-50 were noted in a few locations around the Daugleddau, West Williamston and Carew areas. When totalled up there were probably 200-300 at least. Late this afternoon small flocks were also noted near Ludchurch.
Yesterday afternoon we had a short stroll from Amroth up to Telpyn Point and back. Small parties of feeding common scoter and at least 6 red-breasted mergansers were reasonably visible offshore but the larger scoter flocks of 200-500 or more were much more distant. There must have been at least 1,000-2,000 further out into the bay.