Meds arrive in numbers

A cloudy start cleared by lunchtime then mainly sunny. Not quite as hot, but still reaching 25.6°C. The early south breeze shifting to SW this afternoon 

Middleton Nature Reserve - Janet

These shots from the "no swimming" pond

Emperor 

This looks to be a Red-Veined Darter, the male Common Darters seen 
so far have not turned so red.

Four-spotted Chaser in the southern section of the reserve 

Meadow Brown

South shore

Pete checked from Ocean Edge this morning towards high water

Shag 1 2cy resting on the wooden jetty 

Mediterranean gull 23  on red nab high tide (12 ad/3cy - sev wingtips not visible - rest 2cy)

I had a walk along the sea wall towards low water this afternoon (Malcolm)

Most of the Mediterranean gulls were preening in two main groups between the outfalls, but there were a few at the seaward end of the feeding beach by the wooden jetty. I ended up with a minimum of 28. 

9 adults

9 3rd calendar year

3 adult or 3cy

7 2nd calendar year 

Adult Mediterranean gull

12 Meds in this shot by No.2 outfall

More in this group by No.1 outfall. The arrowed bird has a white ring

I had to check it from various angles but I eventually managed to read all
the characters. Helped by the fact that it is one seen here before, so the
code is familiar. 34ET. Ringed in Belgium in 2019, it has been seen here
every summer since apart from 2022

There are no Sandmason worm tubes showing close to the sea wall yet.
But there are some at the seaward side. Last year they were just starting 
to show nicely before a storm covered them again. This is the prime feeding
option for the Meds here, so hopefully they won't get covered again this year.

Rock Pipits 2 along the inner harbour wall

Both Pipits

This is an adult 

But this one a juvenile, so at least one pair has been at least partially successful 

Peregrine Falcon just one today chasing the gulls around the Power Stations. It was hanging on the breeze, uplifted by the sloping sea wall, then dropping on anything that passed below it. Unfortunately dropping too quickly for me to be able to follow it!