Farlington Marshes at High Tide

A spring tide at Langstone Harbour covered much of the elevated land within the harbour. This, combined with the time of year seeing many migrating waders returning from the arctic, resulted in a fantastic display of birds at Farlington Marshes.

 

Approaching the lake it became clear many hundreds of waders were already roosting here. Grey plovers still in their breeding finery sparkled in the sunshine. Dunlin and curlew sandpipers ran around the muddy margins busily feeding. Black-tailed godwits were mostly asleep. Ringed plovers flew back and forth. Knot, two of which were still red, were dotted in and around the grey plovers. A lone avocet preened behind the ever growing flock.

 

The tide was still rising, encouraging an impressive flock of oystercatchers to join the roost.

A sparrowhawk perched on a fence post close by, looking intently for its next meal. Upon taking off and flying low over the marsh a group of 55 yellow wagtails lifted up and began mobbing the sparrowhawk, shooing it away.