ESE light wind in the morning shifting to SW in the afternoon. Overcast all day but it remained dry.
Middleton Nature Reserve
Common Snipe 2 flushed from edge of the main pond - Janet
There were several Migrant Hawker around, this shot by Janet
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| Male Migrant Hawker |
I had precious little time today, but managed a quick check of the two main ponds in passing (MD)
Mute unchanged
Mallard 9 on main pond, several looking immature
Gadwall 20 on "no swimming" pond
Shoveler 1 male coming out of eclipse.
Coot 2
Moorhen 5 including 1 immature
Little grebe 1 now almost in winter plumage
If you've ever wondered why this pond is called the "no swimming" pond. It's this sign, once prominent, now surrounded by scrub and trees. I'm probably the only person to have read it in a decade!
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| It says: Danger. Keep out. Do not swim Well, you have to call a pond something! |
Heysham skear - low water 15:40 (MD)
This was the only walk I managed today, and this was really just a quick look.
Great Crested Grebe 2
Red-breasted Merganser 4 (2+2)
Eider 7
Little Egret 8
Waders: Oystercatcher, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone and Dunlin 5
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| Cormorant and Herring gull resting on skear edge |
Thanks to Jimmy (via Janet) for this shot and clip of a Tawny Owl, heard most evenings at Sylvan Place. Presumably based on Heysham Head.
