Enter Sanderling

Metallica's song "Enter Sandman" from 1991 is the inspiration for this post's title. For those who have been following this blog for a while, yes, you're right, this is a song link I've used before (see September 2021)😂 I just can't think of another song with sand as a useable link that works as well as this one. Neil Young's Cowgirl in the Sanderling, Circles In The Sanderling, Dylan's Every Grain Of Sanderling were possibles but didn't have that je ne sais quoi to them.

 

 In autumn we get Sanderlings on the beach that hang around in varying numbers through to February/March time. This morning was my first sighting of them for this season, with five on south beach. No leg rings on these birds but it's always worth checking any Sanderling you see.

One of five Sanderling on the beach this morning

Generally the Mere has been a quiet place to visit over the last week, and apart from gradually increasing numbers of Scaup (10+) and Whooper Swans (150+) and the now long-staying Ring-necked Duck there has been nothing new.
 

 Coot numbers are over 500 and I took this photo from the hide so I could count how many birds there were - 413 is the number I got.

413 Coot in Decoy

Two of five Whoopers keeping clear of the Coot

Cream crown Marsh Harrier passing the hide

I went up to Ulrome for a long walk round last week as I hadn't been for a month ot two. It's always a pleasure to wander along the shore and to check the Barmston Drain area for birds. Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Linnet, Stonechat, Pink-footed Goose and Goldfinch were on the sightings list for the day.

 

Rock Pipit

Rock Pipit

Grey Wagtail

Yellowhammer

Stonechat

Flamborough Head and lighthouse from Ulrome

An evening visit to the hide was a nice change from my routine morning walks and I hoped to see something different - I didn't, but that's the way it goes 😀

 

The sun heading towards the horizon through the trees

Nice light on the reed seed heads

Female Teal

On the way home Starlings were gathering over the west end of the Mere. Give it a few days and the murmuration should be worth seeing.

Starling mini murmuration