Return From The Arctic....Knot and Dunlin

I always look forward to the return to the Lancashire coastline of the waders returning from the breeding season in the Arctic regions of the far North.After a brief breeding season when they will have enjoyed twenty four hours of daylight and abundant insect life they return to their winter quarters in Southern latitudes to avoid the rapid onset of Winter.Many of these returning waders use the rich feeding grounds of the Ribble Estuary to replenish their body fat after the long journey South.

The beginning of August is a good time to visit the coastline as many of the waders are still showing signs of their colourful breeding plumage and the knot in particular look fine showing traces of the red breeding plumage.I made a couple of visits to one of my favourite locations to catch up with the returning waders.On both visits to the high tide roost the weather was warm and sunny and good numbers of knot,dunlin and bar tailed godwit were feeding and roosting on the beach.They were accompanied by the ever present oystercatchers and cormorants.I have shown below some images from my first visit when I concentrated on the knot and dunlin and was pleased with the results.The next post will have more images of the dense flocks of roosting knot and images of bar tailed godwits feeding at the edge of the incoming tide.Thanks for looking in and tune in again for more from the Lancashire coastline.