Monday 22 February 2021

Nothing new, but still plenty of good stuff to see and hear

The low cloud in the morning continued getting lower until it became a mist by lunchtime, after that the sun broke through making it feel very warm in the afternoon. Light winds mainly SSW.

Foreshore east of Red Nab
Rock Pipit 3 - there appears to be a territorial boundary about 50m west of the slipway. With 2 confronting 1 several times here today as well as a couple of occasions yesterday (MD).
This clip is during a lull in hostilities. The Rock Pipit catches a small White Ragworm (Nephthys honbergii). In the clip it appears to drop it, but watched in slow motion you can see that it was eaten. It then leaves a small token of its appreciation, before leaving.

Middleton Nature Reserve 
Mute 6 adult 3 juvenile 
Gadwall 22
Mallard 6
Little grebe 1
Water Rail 4 calling

Common Buzzard flying low on the eastern edge
Cetti's warbler 1 singing from the central marsh

Pale-bellied Brent goose 24 in Heysham Village bay
Mediterranean gull 1 near the children's play area
Goldeneye 1 male in low water channel
Eider 80+

Janet took these nice shots while out for her stroll:
Oystercatcher on the wet mud near Red Nab

Male Kestrel near Half Moon Bay


The detail on this Blue Tit's ring can be clearly read
unfortunately not enough characters visible to identify 

Janet leaves pockets of food as she walks out, then checks them  when she 
returns. A good idea! Good for the birds and for anyone passing.
This Blackbird appears to be taunting the Great Tit

Great Spotted Woodpecker 2. These are much more common than most people (not birders) realise. There were two females feeding near the small anemometer. This is one of them. Apologies for the jerky nature of this clip, it was an awkward angle to keep my camera still.