Things Are On The Move At Last...

Alex Portig and I were out again today at the north end of Strangford Lough, and big changes are happening, following the recent northerlies. Still nothing seen down the east side of the Lough, but there are now 4,500 - 5,000 geese present between Floodgates and Castle Espie (where the brent hide is inexplicably closed, height of season, for construction works!!). Current forecasts look like bringing in more geese until the end of the week at least.
Our French observers will be pleased to note that one of their regular pairs, KDRY & KIRY, have made it back this far....!!
Alex, who did his PhD on zostera (the eel-grass which attracts the brent as their favourite food) has been out surveying in his wellies today, despite the rather inclement weather:

Generally he was pleased with the amount and extent he found, with a few exceptions.
For those of you unfamiliar with what it looks like, this is an example of the zostera growing at Castle Espie North, just off Island Hill:

And a general overall impression of what the zostera beds today at Gasworks look like:

Now worth getting out there to look for ringed birds!!

I'm still keen to report "first seen" records away from Strangford Lough...