Twite, Knott End – Lancashire
Great to finally catch up with the over-wintering Twite at Knott End.
During the past few years they’ve become a regular feature favouring the area adjacent to the ferry slipway. With the slipway capturing the floating seeds and debris from further along the estuary the corner has become a bird-table topped up twice per day.
Twite rummaging around the tideline looking for seeds.
Unfortunately as a species the Twite is in severe decline with over half the breeding population lost during the past 25 years. Within England the population is now restricted to the southern Pennines, possibly the origin of these birds. Locally they can also be found in north Wales over-wintering on the Dee estuary.
Approximately half of the Twite flock waiting to drop down from the slipway to the Knott End Ferry
Altogether we counted 58 birds. For a short time the entire flock rested on the adjacent cafe roof. Counting them amongst the flotsam proved far more tricky!
Eyeing up a particularly tasty looking seed.
Mmmmmmmmmmm……..tasty!
Although wary, with patience once the flock settles they can be quite approachable.
In addition to the Twite plenty of the more common waders to be found on the mudbanks, also several Eider Ducks just off-shore. With the turn of the tide we were lucky to enjoy a superb view of thousands of waders flying back in off Morecambe Bay and through the narrow estuary of the River Wyre to their high water feeding grounds.
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- Another seed is devoured
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- Plenty of rich pickings
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- Not sure about the seaweed
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- More tasty morsels
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- Redshank on the mudbanks
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- Oystercatcher
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- Curlew