Dawn, Geese and an Ibis to please!

The weather forecast was cold but with bright skies, so that made my mind up on Friday evening - Goldcliff at dawn the following morning. I arrived around 0715hrs and walked to the seawall where my friend Blair Jones was already settled with his camera at the ready. Walking from the car park to the seawall I noted along the way several Redwings, a Buzzard calling, Crows, Magpies, Meadow Pipits, Herring Gulls and a Robin.

We enjoyed a catch up, talking about my previous weekend at Norfolk, and slowly watching the Sun come up and casting a new form of light over the mudflats. As the light got stronger, there started to appear shapes along the water's edge, and a good number of Wigeon could be seen along with Oystercatchers, Curlew, Black Headed Gulls and a Lesser Black-backed Gull.  As we talked the light got stronger and soon the Sun appeared from behind Hill Farm and hence the photos started. The calls of geese echoed out over the lagoons behind us as the Sun lifted - and so did our spirits. What better way is there than to enjoy the morning Sun at dawn, and listening to a multitude of bird song as everything bursts into life.

                                                                                                                                             Glossy Ibis flying quickly away. Picture: N Davies.

The Sun quickly gained height, and with now strong sunlight, it was an opportunity to scan along the mudflats, where a group of nineteen Avocets and a good number of Dunlin were picked out on the mud. Later, six Grey Plovers and a flock of Lapwing were added to the list. More Curlew appeared and several landed opposite on the water's edge.

             Curlew coming in to land on the mud. Picture: N Davies
Eventually we walked down to the third hide and settled down to warm up with flasks of tea and some nibbles. This is breakfast the early bird style. We were talking about the Glossy Ibis Blair had seen several times in the mornings here, and how it appeared around 0730am flying out of the reeds opposite. As if by magic, albeit fifteen minutes later than the usual time, but there it was, flying up out of the thick reeds where it had been roosting. Unbelievable.  It made a low circular pass right over the heads of a mass of Wigeon and Shoveler we were about to count, and spooked every one into flight, before making its way towards the direction of the nearby wetlands. I only managed a few silhouetted shots and the above one of it flying away. I found out from Blair who returned later that afternoon that it returned to roost in the reeds again.

Four of the five White-fronted Geese. Picture: N Davies.

As we scanned through the flocks of Canada Geese, a flock of Greylag Geese came in and landed on the lagoon ahead of us. A quick scan through set the heart racing. There amongst them were five White-fronted Geese, and two in particular had lovely black belly markings. They were striking looking birds and slightly smaller than the Greylags. White-fronts occur in two races - the Siberian race 'albifrons' which overwinters in east and southeast Europe, and a Greenland race.

The geese all stayed and enjoyed a mixture of eating, preening and bathing. A male Stonechat showed briefly and a Skylark fed closer in. The usual male Peregrine appeared and promptly sat on a rock on the island, preened itself and then stayed there for the duration of our visit. A long line of Canada Geese was worth a scan through I thought, and this proved worthwhile as I located the pair of Barnacle Geese that have been frequenting the lagoons for the past several weeks. What a goose festival this was turning out to be.

Five Tufted Ducks made a fly-by and after fuelling up with our hot tea, we were joined by another birder (Sarah) from Cardiff. The three of us returned to the seawall watching the Avocets again and three Common Snipe along one of the banks of the lagoon. It had been an excellent morning with an interesting mix of birds. Certainly worth getting up early for.  I wish I had gone back down for dusk now.

Canada Geese enjoying a giggle. Picture: N Davies