Water Rail #29

We hadn't planned on going to Parkgate again today but our IFA contacted us to cancel our appointment this morning because of coronavirus - our first bit of disruption connected to the situation. 
This meant that we had an opportunity to see the highest tide of the spring and experience it again. It was so much windier than yesterday which only brought the tide in much faster and higher than either of us expected. 
Thousands of pink footed geese took to the skies, along with hundreds of redshank and other birds. There was not so much gull action today - I think the tide rushed in so quickly they didn't know what to do! 
The most surprising thing for me was the number of water rails that we saw - 6 at one point - as they are such secretive birds. They were obviously forced from their hiding places as the tide came in but were then exposed and the gulls kept chasing them. Boy, they can move fast! I was pleased to see that not one of them was successful at killing one, but it was touch and go at one stage. It's not something I expected at all and was an amazing sight. So today's blip has to be one of the lucky water rails - I doubt I will see as many again. We were also treated to a quick fly by from a short eared owl - just the once, and I also liked this heron who flew past(extras).

Thanks for all your kind wishes for my mum yesterday. She was exhausted, but still chattered away all the way home, so not too bad at all. 
She didn't sleep much last night(not unusual for her and probably due to all the hydrocortisone that she was given), but was giving the gym a miss today so that she could nap whenever she gets tired today :)