Although it felt cool when we set out at Winter's it was surprisingly warm at 20C with very little wind. Viewing from the car park we could see quite a few black-tailed godwit on the adjacent grass field, most in superb summer plumage. They were with greylag and canada geese. On the water were mallared, mainly in eclipse plumage, with some gadwall, pochard and tufted duck. It was good to see a good number on little grebe and the large number of mute swan. A little egret was hunting on the far shore and there were 3 more on the marsh. Walking along the side of the pit we had excellent views of marsh harrier and when we reached to sea wall there were many more black-tailed godwit feeding on the tide line. Altogether we saw 33 species; pleasing for only an hour.
We decided to visit the hide at Killingholme Haven Pits as they are often productive. Today there was a very large (c500) flock of black-tailed godwit, again mainly in summer plumage. Through the scope I found on that was colour ringed. Only the right leg was clearly visible but it was yellow, red,yellow. A glimpse of the left leg revealed a yellow ring but no more were seen. It is probably part of the same project as the colour ringed bird I saw off Novartis Ings in February and ringed on the wash. As we were watching the godwit a movement in the corner of my eye mad me turn my head to see a female roe deer with two beautifully marked youngsters feeding right up to the hide. It was good to see both avocet and shelduck with large young, perhaps the had bred on the pits.
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