Geese galore

Took a a leisurely stroll around the Parish this morning and noted the following highlights:

Freeman's Pools
3 goldeneye, 4 little grebe, 14 wigeon, 4 gadwall, 19 coot & 10 snipe (roosting on the island).

Frog Pond
c20 wigeon

Aldcliffe Marsh
Little egret and another at Snipe Bog (plus a further 2 at least on Colloway)
220 pinkfeet
Spotted redshank, 1 on the saltmarsh pools (this is the first time, to my knowledge, that this species has wintered at Aldcliffe. Although just about annual on passage, I have never known birds to be in residence during the winter months).

Approx 2000 pinkfeet were visible from the upper track, as they fed in the raised fields toward the canal. The usual favoured fields have been 'goose-proofed' with white flags - which certainly seem to work. Without a 'scope I wasn't able to pick anything else out. A further 5 pinkfeet were in the stubble field.

A grey wagtail was in Lucy Brook by Freeman's Wood - where a bullfinch & jay were also present.

Once again received unambiguous news of a short-eared owl which appears to have been seen by a number of Aldcliffe dog-walkers lately at the Marsh Point end of Freeman's Pools.

Also of note: a stoat in about 1/3 ermine

Late breaking news....

Returned with 'scope in the afternoon to check the geese. They were initially in the trig-point field (as viewed from Willow Lane) but soon flew off toward the estuary. When I got there I bumped in Guy and we soon relocated them in the stubble fields. Couldn't find a single other species amongst them. In total, including the ones off the marsh, there were about 4000 pinkfeet in total including a single collared bird which, true to form, remained as far away as possible thus rendering it unreadable.
c20 skylark at the back of the field.
Guy also mentioned an adult Med gull he'd had off the end of Lune Rd - presumably the darvic-ringed P96.