Going for a walk this morning is quite a peaceful affair after yesterday, birds on the west marsh are similar to those of the previous few days with the addition of two white storks. Numbers of some species are fluctuating noticeably, in particular black‑tailed godwit, as flocks pass through on their way back to the north.
Frogs call from the wet areas amongst the sharp‑pointed rushes towards the southern end of the marsh. Jim investigates but finds instead a large brown grasshopper hiding behind three stalks of rush. It tries to hide by manoeuvring to keep the stalks between us and itself. When it feels that ploy is no longer effective, it creeps surreptitiously backwards down the stems until lost in the heart of the plant. It is quite mottled brown and buff, with bands on the hind femora which are also red on the inside; probably an Egyptian grasshopper.
The stone-curlew are sitting out in the open on the east marsh ‑ we wonder if the stone in the name refers to their statue‑like habits during the day. Jim goes back in the evening to see if they really do move then. Their activity is at first limited to short bouts of preening, and one bird head-bobs between preening bouts, then inactivity returns. As dusk falls birds became more active with lots of wing stretching and waving, showing off the pale underwings and white upperwing markings. Some birds run and jump but there is no calling. Activity intensifies as the birds became more restless, eventually they take off and fly north, low over the marsh, presumably to feeding grounds.
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