28 March 2009

I went and checked the Thames part of my patch this morning. Tide was low and there weren't very many birds:

• mallard: 24
  
• gadwall: 16
  
• teal: 12
  
• tufted duck: 15
  
• moorhen: 3
  
• coot: 3 (2 of them fighting it seemed)
  
• lesser black-backed gull: 1 adult
  
• great crested grebe: 1 adult asleep on the water
  
• herring gull: 1 3rd winter(?)
  
• black-headed gull: 3 first year
  
• pied wagtail
  
• cormorant

There was a fairly strong northerly wind, and, at some point, I was treated to a minute or 2 of a female peregrine in stationary flight against it. Awesome!