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Saturday 24 December 2016

Christmas in the mud


It is one of the shortest days of the year. 

In fact it is Christmas Eve (December 24th, 2016) and in Bembridge Harbour and the neighboring St Helen's lagoon on the Isle of Wight the waterfowl are busy enjoying a midwinter feast on the mud, seaweed and shingle uncovered by the low tide.
Little egrets are a recent addition to the British fauna - they have emigrated from the continent. They are very welcome. This one's brilliant white plumage shines in the weak winter sun

Mute swan wades slowly in the rich ooze left by the tide in the lagoon.
Boats and birds - Bembridge


And some dabbing ducks dabbling.
Eurasian Teal (boy) 

Eurasian teal (girl)

The male's rear end; very disinctive

A little line of birds at the sea edge

Lovely lapwings sleep facing into the wind


A seemingly lonely curlew.
Some other waders - bait diggers on Christmas eve on The Duver foreshore.
Overhead two kestrels seem to spar 

The writing is on the sand. 

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