Still a few things going on

A dry day with a light NW wind. Long sunny spells.

South shore - Malcolm 09:45 - 11:00

A walk along the sea wall and back, started with an Osprey lifting all the gulls off Red Nab

It tried fishing at several spots as I walked along the sea wall, it dived a few times but unsuccessfully. It was almost high water and they normally fish here at low water. This clip shows it hovering at one point, it was clearly eying something but moved on.

At times it came quite close to the sea wall

A blue ring on its left leg, but not quite legible 

The gulls returned to Red Nab.....

The central one of these Black-Headed gulls also has a blue ring.
Also not quite legible!

Mediterranean gulls 2 

A 3cy Mediterranean gull (left) was first to arrive, then joined by a
2cy Mediterranean gull (centre)

Kittiwake 1 2cy around No.2 outfall

These shots show the extent of its poor plumage, many of the feathers
have long gaps in the filaments along the quill.

Canada goose 17 low and uncharacteristically quietly heading NW.

Canada geese

Rock Pipits 3 one along the sea wall, the lighthouse male was displaying, meanwhile the female just sat on the wall.

Rock Pipit

Apart from the Kittiwake, the only gulls on the outfalls were Black-Headed

Middleton Nature Reserve southern section - Janet

First Ringlet of the year seen but it was camera shy!

Small Heath

Large Skippers 

Common Darter

There were Bee Orchids in several locations 

Heysham skear - Malcolm 18:15 - 20:00

It was a lovely evening and I couldn't resist a walk out, even knowing that the tide was too far out to reach most of the birds.

Red-breasted Merganser 1 female

Great Crested Grebe 3

This one was snorkelling, a feeding method I normally associate with Mergansers. Presumably it is trying to flush out small fish in the shallows.

Little Egret 6

Shag 1 2nd calendar year

Gulls, most were towards the western end of the middle skear and on the outer skear, no way to estimate numbers, but a lot!

This is looking towards the end of the middle skear with the outer skear
beyond. All the orangey blobs are this years mussels, growing quickly!

Oystercatcher c1000 lifted when a Grey Heron passed over. There would have been more

Curlew 14 were the only other waders.

Just out of the recording area 1 spoonbill just inland from Middleton Sands