Went to Goldcliff at first light in the hope of reading Curlew rings on the high tide (12.4 metres at 08h21). 57 Curlews had spent the night on the first lagoon, where water levels were lowish, and observation conditions excellent. Disappointingly, I could not see any rings at all, though it’s good to have confirmation that Curlews do actually spend the night on the lagoon when tides are high. At the same time, Chris Wells was at Peterstone and read eight rings among the 250 Curlews on the high tide roost there.
Other birds of interest at Goldcliff were a very large flock of Black-tailed Godwits, which had also spent the night and were feeding hungrily at first light, though they flew out over the seawall at about 08h00. I estimated the flock at 1500 individuals. Also a roosting flock of 70 Knot, and quite large and agitated flocks of about 500 Lapwings, perhaps recently arrived migrants.