Sandeel bonanza

Quite a fresh WNW wind, some cloud, but plenty of sunshine 

South shore (MD)

A morning check on the rising tide

Rock Pipits 2 arguing on Red Nab. The helper bird near lighthouse with a bill full of food, but no mouths to feed. Presumably a non breeding female, she seems obsessed with feeding the young (I didn't dare yawn!). Hopefully, she'll have her own young to feed next year. 

Mediterranean gulls 19 minimum - there were 5 adult on the beach next to the wooden jetty, but only resting not feeding. 3 juvenile feeding on the seaward end of No.1 outflow. There were 15 adult and a 3rd calendar year on Red Nab, possibly including the 5 from the beach.

Turnstone 1

Redshank 30+ ended up on the wooden jetty. Nice to have them back shouting at you. These three seem to have forgotten that the sea rises!

There were probably about 30 gulls feeding on each outflow, pretty typical. Then very quickly there were hundreds! This is No.2 outflow. No.1 was the same.

Janet said there were high numbers yesterday too and sent this shot. This Black-Headed gull looks to have a small Whitebait (you'll probably need to open the shot to see detail).

Black-Headed Gull feeding on the outflows 

But it wasn't Whitebait today that got them all feeding, it was Sandeels. 

Black-Headed gull with a large Sandeel

A large shoal must have been in the harbour and many drawn through. There were so many that it took quite a while before this Black-Headed Gull was challenged for its bigger than average prize. Normally any gull with a fish is immediately harassed by the other gulls.

There must be a lot of sandeels this year, the Rock Pipits were even feeding small ones to the chicks, presumably gathered from the waterfall area. Let's hope they stay around Sandeels are ideal for terns, and the smaller diving birds.