The bird shaped mud beside the bridge seems symbolic of Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve with its attraction to birdwatchers.  Just as I was trying to get the small Egret beside the stumps of the old wooden bridge it flew off towards the hundreds of geese feeding on the mud as the tide was ebbing. (extra)   Apparently the first Pink Footed geese flew from Iceland over the bay this morning to join the resident Greylags and some migrant Brent geese and according to records the first Pink Foots arrive on average on the 9th September so perhaps they are a day late. A sure sign of autumn has been the sight of several skeins of geese flying across the house this afternoon.    Meanwhile in our eaves the second brood of house martins are still in the nest so will have to learn to fly quickly before they soon migrate to Africa.