anser2 Posted August 13, 2015 Report Share Posted August 13, 2015 (edited) I was up on the North Norfolk coast this morning and the first reasonable numbers of teal were in. There have been 6 or 7 about for several weeks , but today I counted 90 on a couple of pools just inland of the sea wall. Mallard numbers were starting to pick up too from 50 last week to over 90 today , but these will be localy bred birds. Still a few moulting mallard ( 7) about not able to fly , but most were strong on the wing. Only one brood of tufted and they will be another week before they are flying. Plenty of flying gadwall and odd shoveller and pochard. No sign of any wigeon or pintail yet, but they cant be far away. Greylag numbers were well down for the time of year , but the breeding season was very late this year so many are likely to be on the breeding marshes still. Also a small flock of 7 canadas , but they are gettting very scarce around here after being put on the pest list a few years ago. Two weeks to go before the season opens , but things are looking a little more promising than they did a while ago. Edited August 13, 2015 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodp Posted August 13, 2015 Report Share Posted August 13, 2015 I was up on the North Norfolk coast this morning and the first reasonable numbers of teal were in. There have been 6 or 7 about for several weeks , but today I counted 90 on a couple of pools just inland of the sea wall. Mallard numbers were starting to pick up too from 50 last week to over 90 today , but these will be localy bred birds. Still a few moulting mallard ( 7) about not able to fly , but most were strong on the wing. Only one brood of tufted and they will be another week before they are flying. Plenty of flying gadwall and odd shoveller and pochard. No sign of any wigeon or pintail yet, but they cant be far away. Greylag numbers were well down for the time of year , but the breeding season was very late this year so many are likely to be on the breeding marshes still. Also a small flock of 7 canadas , but they are gettting very scarce around here after being put on the pest list a few years ago. Two weeks to go before the season opens , but things are looking a little more promising than they did a while ago. You need to come and shoot the local park ponds and the cuts around here, hundreds of the damned things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pushandpull Posted August 13, 2015 Report Share Posted August 13, 2015 A few Pinkfeet too, very close to your patch, as well as some up on the Forth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruffydog Posted August 13, 2015 Report Share Posted August 13, 2015 To paraphrase our American cousins: "Praise the Lord and pass the (non-toxic) ammunition!" Last season was a disappointment for me, so I'm looking to redeem myself this year and feed the kids their Christmas goose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted August 13, 2015 Report Share Posted August 13, 2015 Anser, I saw 3 drake pintail two weeks ago on the wash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 13, 2015 Report Share Posted August 13, 2015 Interesting will be watching and counting over next few days as yet not much idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted August 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2015 Matt, very small numbers of pintail stay in this country and have been recorded breeding on the Ouse Washes. I suspect thats where your pintail may have come from though some wildfowling clubs have been releasing them around the Wash too. I shot one with a WAGBI ring on Kings Lynn marsh back in the 1980s and it was released at Holbeach.. Late July is a little too early for migrants from Northern Europe to arrive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IEH Posted August 13, 2015 Report Share Posted August 13, 2015 Quite a few Teal on the Axe estuary last weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie10 Posted August 14, 2015 Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 Been keeping an eye on the birdwatching sites and out in the field, still quiet down in Essex. Canadas and Mallard are now moving in the morning and evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Footu Posted August 14, 2015 Report Share Posted August 14, 2015 We had pinks over summer in small numbers, saw 35 Canada on a old quarry pit last week, We also have tufted on the pits where I live stay over. I'm out on the dee estuary tonight for a mooch with the dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted August 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2015 Saw my first wigeon of the autumn tonight. A little group of 3 on the N Norfolk Coast at high tide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 Would you consider this early, normally I see my first wigeon around second to third week September, then I consider the wildfowling season underway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted August 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 Its not unusual for the first few wigeon to arrive in Mid August on the north Norfolk coast. Some years there can be several hundred in by the last week of the month. On several occasions wigeon have been my first duck of the season on September 1st. But the main arrivals start in the 3rd\4th week of September through to early November. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted August 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 (edited) Its not unusual for the first few wigeon to arrive in Mid August on the north Norfolk coast. Some years there can be several hundred in by the last week of the month in places such as Cley reserve. On several occasions wigeon have been my first duck of the season on September 1st. But the main arrivals start in the 3rd\4th week of September through to early November. I count the wildfowl on a small marsh just inland of the sea wall on the N Norfolk coast and the past 6 August's numbers have been as follows. 2010 = 2 2011 = 6 2012 = 14 2013 = 59 2014 = 10 2015 = 3 so far Edited August 17, 2015 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kippylawkid Posted August 18, 2015 Report Share Posted August 18, 2015 Seen some small packs of wigeon on Lindisfarne this week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted August 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 The wigeon flock was up to 14 a few days ago. mallard numbers up by a third to 150 , but well below average for this time of year which is usually around 250. 16 shovellers were new arrivals , the first on the reserve since June. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokersmith Posted August 28, 2015 Report Share Posted August 28, 2015 (edited) Weather looks encouraging for migrants over the coming moon ... it'll be interesting to see what turns up. Edited August 28, 2015 by Smokersmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamch Posted August 28, 2015 Report Share Posted August 28, 2015 Which birding sites are useful to watch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokersmith Posted August 28, 2015 Report Share Posted August 28, 2015 Spurn point get's to see a fair bit, and I think I can remember links to the other sites which may interest ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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