Today's forecast was for light showers. Unfortunately, just one light shower, but it lasted all day. Light breeze from SSE.
John and I set nets on both east and west sides this morning. Conditions were good with no breeze. 55 birds were captured and processed:
Wren 5 + 1 retrap
Robin 4
Sedge Warbler 2 + 1 retrap
Lesser Whitethroat 5 + 1 retrap
Common Whitethroat 10
Blackcap 3 + 1 retrap
Chiffchaff 1 + 1 retrap
Willow Warbler 6
Blue Tit 4
Great Tit 1
Greenfinch 1
Goldfinch 7
Reed Bunting 1
c25 Swallows passed through the site but none were caught. No Grey Wagtails were caught or seen/heard.
South shore
Pete checked Red Nab this morning.
Mediterranean gull 22 - 24
Sandwich Tern 5
Most of the above flew off south as the tide reached the rocks, unfortunately not to the beach out from saltmarsh, where three large dogs were being exercised.
I was a bit late on the scene, but probably didn't miss much, if the beach out from the saltmarsh had been cleared (MD)
Rock Pipits 4 together on the tide line of the beach between Red Nab and Ocean Edge foreshore.
Wheatear 7
Lapwing 8
Redshank 150 on the saltmarsh
Common Sandpiper 3 together
Three Common Sandpiper
Making these the largest "flock" of this species recorded in the Observatory area!
Originally near the rocky outcrop on the east side of the saltmarsh,
then flew to this small island.
Heysham skear - low water 18:15
Great Crested Grebe 6
Eider 20
Little Egret 7
Grey Heron 1
Mediterranean gull 1 - again on the northern side. It had an island all to itself and seemed quite content (who wouldn't be!). It seemed to be finding plenty of food, in this clip it catches a small crab.
Earlier this week Howard sent me these splendid Great Crested Grebe pictures. These were taken from the northern side of the Observatory area, but probably were two of the six seen this evening. Either way they are great pictures and definitely worth opening the images to appreciate the detail.
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| Great Crested Grebe |
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| Juvenile Great Crested Grebe |
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