Nice inshore Gannet views

The fresh SW to W wind continued overnight and through the morning, easing slightly after lunch. Just a few light showers.

Pete managed a morning check:

Arctic tern 1 adult out 

114 turnstone heliport seawall

South shore (MD)

A laboured morning walk down the wall towards high water and another sprightlier one in the afternoon towards low water (cold seems to be improving!)

Little Egret 4

Wheatear 2 adult

Rock Pipit 1 on Red Nab

Whimbrel 2 at least

Gannet 1 adult flew past the harbour mouth then continued south (09:20)

Gannet being chased off by a Herring Gull, providing a nice comparison of size.

It was good to see a live Gannet, there have been more than normal washed up dead this year (four, I often don't see any and rarely more than one)

Cormorant 26 on the wooden jetty

Cormorants on the wooden jetty as the Gannet flies over

Mediterranean gull 25 minimum. In the morning there was just one adult on Red Nab and one juvenile on No.1 outflow. But in the afternoon there were 24 adult/3rd calendar year on the beach near the wooden jetty. They were all catching Sandmason worms, even those in the middle of the beach, although some had already stopped eating and were just resting.

Adult Mediterranean gull surrounded by the tops of the tubes of Sandmason  worms.

Butterflies in the Nature Park included:

Red Admiral 

Large White

Comma

Gatekeeper 

Small White

Speckled Wood 

Common Blue