Grim!

Probably grim is not a grim enough word to describe this morning's weather! The constant rain alternating between very heavy and not quite so heavy! A SE wind early on shifted to SW after lunch.

It faired up mid afternoon, by that time it had put down 50mm of rain! By evening the sun was out.

Unfortunately, I only had opportunity for a morning walk today (Malcolm)

Saltmarsh to Red Nab

Out from the saltmarsh 

Grey Plover 1

Ringed Plover 12

Redshank 30

Turnstone 12

Oystercatcher 15

I just managed a few monochrome like shots sheltering behind the large sign by the slipway.

Ringed Plover, Grey Plover and Oystercatcher 

Grey Plover and marsh grass 

Redshank and Samphire 

Turnstone and tiny molluscs 

Wheatear 1 on foreshore 

Wigeon 5 flew south from Red Nab

Little Egret 3

Kingfisher 1 - the freshwater runoff was a torrent so it was feeding in the rock pools along the western edge of Red Nab

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just a quick look at the two main ponds on the way home.

Mute Swan pair plus one large cygnet. No sign of the adult that had been on the "no swimming" pond. The water here is now 1.5m above its normal height, the swan's nest is well underwater (see post 08/09/24)

Mallard 14

Tufted Duck 10

Gadwall 1 male was a new arrival

Male Gadwall

Coot 18 - the rain had "eased" to not quite so heavy, so I took this clip of the Coot arguing. The Gadwall and a male Tufted in the background 

Weather looks set fair for the rest of the week