Walk report: 15 November 2018 Sturt Pond area

Little Egret at Sturt Pond
© Mary Mawdsley

Thirteen enthusiastic Lymnats set off from Sea Road car park on a misty morning. We followed Danestream to Sturt Pond. Here there was a wealth of wading and seabirds - notably juveniles Brent Geese, which was delightful as there had been a decline Brent Geese breeding success in previous years. Other birds in the pond included Common Teal, Little Grebe, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwits and a Mediterranean Gull. The fields on the other side of the path were as productive - birds noted here included a Merlin being mobbed by a Carrion Crow, Reed Bunting, Linnets, Stonechat and Meadow Pipits.

Rock Pipit on Bladder Wrack
© Chris Robinson

Bladder Wrack was on the edge of the pond, alongside cotton grass, Greater Periwinkle, Honeysuckle, Sea Mayweed and some escaped brassica species. We journeyed along to Cut Bridge, and here we found Turnstones, Mute Swans, Dunlin and Oystercatchers.

Reed Bunting
© Chris Robinson

On the return journey we walked along the top of the spit and then into the MCV bird hide over looking Sturt Pond. When Collared Dove and Magpie were added as we returned to the car park our total of birds reached 40 species! M&MM