Finches feeding

Once again, a heavy early morning shower followed by a dry and sunny morning. More overcast in the afternoon. A light SW wind.

South shore (MD, JP)

Pale-bellied Brent goose 26 - none had arrived on Red Nab when I left, but Janet saw 5 when she went past a little later. 26 were seen flying into the recording area past Cockersands.

Pale-bellied Brent Geese arrived late and can't have stayed long on Red Nab

Wigeon 350+

Wigeon 

Shelduck 4 south

Shag 1 on the wooden jetty

Redshank 180

Redshank and a few Turnstone on the edges of No.1 outflow, a small group of Wigeon
behind them and beyond the wooded jetty with Cormorants and a Shag

It is surprisingly difficult spotting birds in a clear blue sky, it's easier with a blanket of white clouds. This is a clip of a group of Curlew heading south, although when I first saw them coming I wasn't sure what they were. It was a case of shoot first, ask questions later!

Nature Park

There were a lot of finches around today, unfortunately I couldn't find any Siskin (Malcolm).

This Male Chaffinch had been feeding in the leaf litter and was only using the tree to clean its bill and have a preen.

Meanwhile the Goldfinch were using their finer bills to eek the seeds out of the Alder catkins.

Perhaps the Goldfinch eating its seeds is slightly detrimental to the Alder, but the Alder only needs one seed to germinate in its lifetime to maintain continuity. This female Bullfinch on the other hand seems to be taking most of this trees flower buds (not sure what species). Again, I don't suppose it will matter much to the tree, but it's an awful lot of flowers that won't bloom for the insects and fruit that won't set for the autumn birds. That said, this decimation happens every year and I am always amazed how much blossom still manages to bloom.

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD) 

Just a quick check of the two main ponds

Mute Swan 2 adults on the "no swimming" pond, 6 immature on the main pond, although they were well spread out unlike previous behaviour.

Mallard 18

Gadwall 5

Tufted Duck 1 male

Teal 2

Little Grebe 2 (one on each pond, the main pond bird trilling constantly)

Coot 6

Moorhen 4

The Tufted Duck's tuft was looking splendid in the wind.

Imperial Rd (MD) - mid afternoon 

Buzzard 1

Teal 12

Jay 2

Mistle Thrush 4

Pink-Footed goose 800 - they had been resting/feeding in one of the fields to the north of the bypass when they decided it was time to fly south.

Pink-Footed geese

Just out of the recording areas - Middleton Parish Hall (JP)

Glossy Ibis initially feeding in the horse paddock behind the hall this morning, then flew to a tree to rest a while