Number eleven!

An early morning visit to the Spit Hide produced nothing new. The Spoonbills were very distant and even with a 400mm lens they look a long way away! A little better when drastically cropped but only a record.

A few Linnets, a couple of Willow Warblers, a single Wheatear and that was about it..

...except for the resident Blackbird and a high flying,singing Skylark.

Skylark. .gaining height.

So it was time to explore the North Wall....Cettis were singing in the reedbed and a Robin greeted me by the horses field.

...almost 200 Black Tailed Godwits were feeding/sleeping on the muddy Breech Pool.

I met Peter Callis who asked if I'd heard a Sedge Warbler but on returning to  the sluice gate  it was not performing but patience was rewarded as, after a few minutes,  it suddenly burst into song...unfortunately  neither of us saw it as it remained well hidden! A couple of Swallows flew by and a pair of Buzzards were performing way above us. Slightly unusual was the number of Mute Swans hanging about in Whites Creek.

Back at home Mrs Mallard left the nest in the garden sink last night at 9.00pm and did not return until 10 past 6 this morning. She remained on the 'nest' until 2.50pm when I noted there were 11 eggs and returned at about 5.00 pm.

Room for one more, perhaps!

I am concerned at the erratic brooding times and don't understand why she leaves them all night...getting cold.

Spoonbills in the harbour.

There had been a report of a flyover Spoonbill during the past week from the North wall and later two had been seen from Church Norton. Today was the first time I located them, right in the distance from the Spit Hide. I only had my 400mm lens and at the considerable  distance involved  they were only just recognisable with bins...hence a very poor record shot!
 

The Mallard in the garden sink failed to brood overnight not returning until about 6.00am this morning and then sitting until 2.00 pm when she revealed a tenth egg!

 These were well covered with dead grass and down but were left unattended until 6.00pm when she returned.

There is not much room for many more eggs and I had thought the clutch was complete 2 days ago but I was obviously wrong!

The continuing story of Mrs Mallard.

The Mallard was disturbed last evening at about 9.00pm probably by a fox who makes regular visits to the garden at about this time. She didn't return until 6.00a.m. this morning, promptly laid yet another egg (No. 9) and departed for the rest of the day until returning at 5.00p.m. Surely this on/off brooding behaviour will create a problem!

Nine eggs....but she is now partially covering them when not brooding.

Seven Mute Swans on the Lagoon this morning with one bird being chased off repeatedly

Little else apart from a single Swallow arriving off the sea at 4.30pm....my first on the beach this year.

That's it...now another 28 days of brooding!

No. 8 arrived at 7.10 this morning.

 The Mallard has been brooding all day today and only departed for two half hours to presumably get 'fed and watered'.

I was somewhat alarmed to note the sediment/oil/ algae on the Lagoon this morning at the western end.
Heard a Blackcap in the Lagoon bushes and noted a pair of Meadow Pipits along the harbour fringe. Plenty of Linnets and Greenfinches in the gorse but little else of interest.

Almost not newsworthy any more!

 

Yes...No. 7 arrived at  7.03 this morning...Mrs Mallard was sitting in the sink from at least 6.00am and disappeared immediately after the egg was laid.

Mr Mallard was keeping well out the way on the Lagoon....

Mallards don't incubate until completion of clutch but in past years she never has incubated but we have never seen so many eggs...three being the previous maximum.

Plenty of Willow Warblers around the Lagoon and in the bushes leading to the Spit Hide....at least ten. Still feeding and still difficult to photograph!

Constantly on the move!

One of only two Brent Geese I noted.

A few Blue Tits  by the Lagoon

...and Linnets looking for suitable nest sites.

Little else of interest but later in the day a female Wheatear on the beach and a couple of Sandwich Terns exploring the 'new' harbour entrance in front of our bungalow.

Come in....No. 6!

 Caught Mrs Mallard on the 'nest' this morning in the sink showing no concern as I went in and out of our front door only a couple of feet away.

 At 10 past 7 she pushed off and there it was..................number six!

Mallards can have double this number so it could be interesting.

 Following yesterdays early morning  arrival she did not show up all day.

(I apologise to my blog followers for what may seem a rather boring daily bulletin but I think this bird  is in a sufficiently unusual location to warrant  continuing until a conclusion)

There had been a 'fall' of Willow Warblers overnight and several were singing around the Lagoon and
in the bushes leading to to the Spit Hide.

 All feeding frantically and difficult to capture!

The numbers of waders and ducks have dropped dramatically on the mudflats with just a few Oystercatchers and Curlew within camera distance...just!

Curlew feeding

Oystercatcher...reflecting.

 

Plenty of young bunnies though!

Can you believe it!

As I stepped outside the front door at 8.10 this morning, guess what!!

No sign of Mrs Mallard...just egg No. 5 in the sink!