Tumbling Raven

Freshly spring cleaned badger set - yes that is sand, after all we're near the beach

The weather was perfect on Saturday, had a good old 3 hour walk around Sand Bay and then Sand Point. Tide was up at 10.30 am, so completed usual stationary watch for an hour. Wader numbers were slightly down on recent visits but still 300+ Dunlin, 150+ shelduck, 60+ Curlew, 10-12 Grey Plover, associated gulls, mainly BHG, but also 2 Lesser Black Back and 7 Common. Single Redshank and Snipe.

After this had a walk along the lane, up to the point and to the end. By the time I'd walked to the tip of the point, the tide was way out and past here. From up high on the point a great view can be had of the mud creeks. Doing a scan of the mud gave me a handful of Redshank and Oystercatcher (that's where they were). Also an unidentified wader swimming in the creek, which had the "jizz" of a phalarope, but too far away and too brief a view to make any positive ID. Spring though was definitely in the air, with not one but 2 singing Song Thrush, one by the farm the other by the NT Carpark. One of the badger sets being given a very creditable spring clean, so much so the sand was half way across the road.

Sand Bay with Weston mid distance and Quantocks in the far distance

Patterns in the mud, and Sand Point looking back up the Bristol Channel to Clevedon

Highlight though had to be, just as I turned to walk back, heard "Cronk". Looked up and two Ravens were in the sky above, tumbling. Sand Point has a resident pair, which I've watched all winter, but to see them tumbling in the air made for a fabulous end to the day. Tremendous stuff.