This evening at Ynyslas, as high tide approached I was endeavouring to count the number of Ringed Plover at the point. Got to 543 when they all exploded into the air as a Peregrine swooped in for its evening meal! As well as the Plover there was a large number of Dunlin and a good sprinkling of Sanderling. The Peregrine settled for a while before continuing its harrassment of the wader flock which persisited until they had distributed themselves further along the shoreline.
Driving back along the Leri saltings - just at high tide I was amazed at the number of Hirundines over the water between the track and the Leri. There must have been 800-1000, mainly House Martins but also a few Swallows. As reported in the previous blogs they were obviously feeding on the flies which in this instance were being pushed off the Spartina etc by the rising water Some even appeared to be scooping up water - bit brackish! Unfortunately Tony - no trout to be seen - only a possible Grey Mullet. (I concur with the observations/comments that Swallows in particular regularly feed on hatches of Chironomids etc over lakes and rivers) At just about high tide they all decided the banquet was over and headed South - possibly indicating they were on the move to warmer climes.