Piltanton Burn 22/ix/23

Sunny spells, sharp showers, strong north-westerly, high tide 16.52.

I headed seaward at first because a dog-walker had just returned from the upstream end of the beach and would have disturbed everything there. The rising tide worked to my advantage and drove a mixed flock of waders towards me. They landed on the stony fringe of the rapidly filling creek and I counted about 90 Turnstone as they began to feed in a frantic manner. Among them were seven Dunlin, five Golden Plover and a single Ruff, possibly the same one as last week. No sign of the Curlew-Sandpipers nor did I spot any Ringed Plover or Redshank, which was surprising. Curlew and Oystercatcher were present of course, although numbers of both appeared to be reduced, with counts of about 40 and 70 respectively.

As usual on a rising tide, a few Cormorants and Mergansers swam up the creek, presumably following fish. Today they were joined by a Common Seal, which hauled itself out onto a sand-bank. I could clearly discern its small rounded head and concave profile, as it settled into the classic bowed posture, lying on its side with hind flippers and head raised into the air. Personally, if I lay like that for any length of time, I would suffer aches and pains for days afterwards, but I expect seals are more supple than I. The blubbery mammal (the seal, not me) was unable to settle for long however as the sea steadily inundated its position. After a ten-minute rest, it waddled back into the creek and disappeared beneath the waves. I have been a regular visitor to this site only since May and this is the first seal I have noticed. Hopefully more will arrive as the year progresses.

In the blustery conditions, song-birds were conspicuous by their absence. A handful of Linnets kept close to the ground and some Pied Wagtails scurried about the closely mown grass on the golf course. A single Swallow hurtled south with the wind in its sails.

Another dog-walker approached with a pair of energetic spaniels, heading straight for the roosts. My stomach was rumbling by then, so I decided to call it a day before witnessing the inevitable disturbance. It is tempting to try and explain to the owner how costly it can be for the effected birds, all that precious energy expended flying away when they should be resting. Studies have shown that survival itself can be put at risk, especially during cold weather, but I know from past experience that the human response is often abusive, if not downright aggressive, no matter how tactful you try to be.

By the way, the pick-up truck from last week is still stranded mid-channel, although its tracks on the foreshore are gradually being eroded by repeated inundation. The vehicle itself becomes completely submerged at high tide and is now missing its loading-bay cover.

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