A fresh NW wind with just the odd light shower.
South shore
Janet was first to check this morning.
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Nine Pale-bellied Brent geese on Red Nab |
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Rock pipit near the lighthouse |
Grey seal 1 between the outflows.
It then decided to do its baby elephant impersonation
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The "elephant's ears" are just the waves it displaced as it dived. |
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Brimstone butterfly in the Nature Park |
I checked a little later (Malcolm)
Linnet a pair on the saltmarsh
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Female Linnet with nest lining material |
Whimbrel 2 - one on the saltmarsh and this one feeding on the foreshore grass.
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Whimbrel |
It had already dug up this grub, but decided to have a good look around before eating it.
Warblers in the Nature Park
Two each, Chiffchaff, Willow warbler and Blackcap
Lesser Whitethroat 1 (one of ten Lesser Whitethroat covered in today's post)
Imperial Rd
Just the briefest of stop offs to check the field to NE of the roundabout
Little Egret 8
Lesser Whitethroat 3 heard from the roundabout
Middleton Nature Reserve
Another brief check of the central marsh located 7 warbler species in the morning (Malcolm)
Cetti's warbler 5
Sedge Warbler 1
Reed Warbler 2
Blackcap 2
Willow Warbler 4
Chiffchaff 3
Lesser Whitethroat 6 at least, including 3 along the access road.
But by this afternoon at least one Grasshopper warbler was reeling - Rosie Briggs
So, we're up to 8 warbler species now.
Reed Bunting 1
Common Snipe 1
Pheasant 1 male calling
Heysham skear - low water 16:40
I walked out with some trepidation after yesterday's washout (Malcolm). But it turned out to an enjoyable walk, largely in sunshine.
Little Egret 6
Eider 34
Great Crested Grebe 1
Shag 1 adult resting on conger rock.
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Shag |
Sandwich Tern 2
Initially they were both resting on a rock.
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Sandwich Terns |
Then one flew off and began fishing
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Normally, when one remains behind its a female and she expects to be fed, but that didn't happen today. Perhaps the other wasn't catching anything or perhaps it just hadn't got the message. Either way they both ended fishing along the north side of the skear |
Osprey 1 very distant to the north. Fortunately, they and the effect they have on gulls are very distinctive!
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Osprey with a cloud of gulls in tow. Its laboured flight suggests that it was carrying a fish. It was flying NW at 15:30, heading for Foulshaw? |
Waders pretty much as recent, except no Whimbrel seen or heard. This is a nice clip of a Curlew feeding with Oystercatcher and Knot.
Bar-Tailed Godwit just 6
Swallow 1 north
Just out of the recording area - horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall
Glossy Ibis there mid morning at least.