Branton and Boulmer

I wak around Branton Ponds in the morning saw many of the waterfowl in display mode.  Parties of goldeneye (12) and wigeon (21) were vocally calling and throwing back their heads.  One pair of wigeon was seen to mate.  Other waterfowl included 8 goosander and a male pochard.  There were good numbers of lapwing (31) and small numbers of curlew (14) and snipe (3).  Other species of interest included bullfinch (4), lesser redpoll (2) and good numbers of long-tailed, great, blue and coal tits.  One or two hawthorn bushes were coming into leaf. 

The afternoon was spent on the beach at Boulmer.  Good numbers of waders were on the rocks and beach - curlew, grey plover (3), dunlin (24), sanderling (23), turnstone, bar-tailed godwit (12) and purple sandpiper (1).  There was a small party of brent which included 21 light-bellied and 7 dark-bellied brent geese.  The strand-line held good numbers of rock pipits (7).