Another Pomarine Skua

A fresh SW wind moved to west after lunch. Plenty of sunshine with just the odd light shower.

Seawatch report by Jean:

Seawatch from the North Harbour Wall

06:30-08:30 (high tide at 08:27hrs) 

SW F4, cloudy

A bit slow this morning with birds rather distant. The wind was a few degrees more southerly than forecast.

Pomarine Skua - 1 into Bay at 07:35

Arctic Skua - 1 dark morph in at 08:12

Gannet - 2 into Bay, 6 out

Common Scoter - 8 in, 25 out

Grey Plover - 22 out

Small waders - 5 in, 30 out

Guillemot - 3 out

Razorbill - 3 in

Auk sp- 11 in, 3 out

Arctic Tern - 5 in

Goosander - 1 out

Red Nab

Pink-footed Goose - 2

Wooden jetty

Shag - 1

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Janet had a look in the morning 

The "no swimming" pond female Mute Swan with 9 cygnets 

Small Heath - first of the year

I had a look in the afternoon (MD)

The two adult mute from the main pond had gone. Both the male and female with their chicks were back on the "no swimming" pond, the aggressive male looking the dutiful father today.

He wasn't the only attentive father, these two Coot were feeding 5 chicks. Presumably Mum and Dad, but not necessarily. Coot parents independently feed "half" of the chicks, so in theory, these could be from two different broods.

Warblers included:

Cetti's Warbler 

Willow Warbler 

Chiffchaff 

Blackcap

Sedge Warbler 

The Orchids are starting to emerge

Early Purple Orchid (I think MD)

This stand of flowers in the NW corner of the main pond looks good.

A pretty flower, with the less than flattering name.......
Bogbean