Walk Before Sunset
After two busy days in the garden, I decided to take a walk down the marsh to see if there had been any new arrivals as it had been really windy overnight. As I approached the marsh I could hear some Redshank creating a commotion further down the track ,but closer to me were a small flock of 25 Ruff feeding in the shallows.These birds had arrived 10 days earlier than last year and there was one lovely - looking bird changing into his mating plumage with a white head dress.
Ruff
As I walked along the track my attention was diverted to some movement in some reeds on the other side of the shallows.It was a small group of waders 9 Kentish plover and 3 Little stint,it was great to see them back again ,as they managed to hatch at least 6 young between them last season.As there are relatively few predators around, they all fledged successfully.
Kentish plover
In the meantime the Redshank were still making their presence felt further along the marsh,as I neared their location I could see the reason for the noisy behaviour.One of the local sheperds dogs, a huge Kangol with cropped ears and a spiked collar, had decided to cross the marsh at the shallows where the Redshank were feeding and they were clearly not impressed .
Redshank
As I sat on a huge rock scanning the area ,I could see the Little egrets had returned and were fishing across the harbour - front along with some Grey heron and a single Great egret.Just then I heard the familiar call of some Ruddy shelduck passing overhead followed by a "v" formation of cormorant flying back to Karaburun for roosting.
It was now time to wander back home. The sun was beginning to drop over Ovacik mountain just as I noticed the first Red -rumped swallows, along with some House martins skimming across the water feeding on a new hatch of insects, yes , spring had certainly arrived.
Little egret
