A bit of slow motion sniping

Almost breathless all day, what air movement there was from SSE. Sunshine all day.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Cetti's warbler 1 singing

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Brimstone 1 possibly 2 female

Both the above from Janet 

Red Nab and Saltmarsh (MD)

Pale-bellied Brent goose 36 on Red Nab

Shelduck 45

Wigeon 22 - a big reduction from recent counts

Common Snipe 12

Today's tide at 9.3m should have covered the saltmarsh and flushed everything. But the lack of wind and the high atmospheric pressure meant that it only covered 75% of it. Not only that but it came in so gently that it didn't flush the snipe at all. These two were typical:

These are the same couple on the same "island" a few minutes later.

The second bird quickly followed:

Common Snipe

I managed to get 10 snipe in this clip, all common.

This final clip just shows the location, this is at high water, so also demonstrates how much of the saltmarsh remained uncovered today. Tomorrow should be different.

Jack Snipe 1 - fortunately as I was walking off a few Common Snipe took flight spooking a Jack to fly too.

Rock Pipit 4 (2 each on saltmarsh and Red Nab)

No Robin or Reed Buntings around the saltmarsh, but this Wren graced me with its company.