Dodging the showers.....with some success

Heavy overnight rain followed by some lighter showers during the day. The sun actually appeared briefly later this afternoon. A fresh NW breeze.

Saltmarsh to No.2 outfall - Malcolm 09:00 - 09:30

Linnet 35 feeding on the saltmarsh 

Pied Wagtail 7 feeding on Ocean Edge grass

Pied Wagtails. The adult (left) has a "leather jacket" (Cranefly larvae)
Look how green the grass is now. It was brown last week!

Wheatear 2

This Wheatear was feeding along the strandline between Red Nab
and the foreshore 

Unlike the Rock Pipits that forage amongst the wrack etc. the Wheatear watches out for movement then dashes over to grab whatever it sees. It was very hard to keep up with. I never managed to see what it was finding, and eventually lost it completely!

Rock Pipit just one on Red Nab

Little Egret 5

Mediterranean gull 1 first calendar year on No.2 outfall

1cy Mediterranean gull (left) with Black-Headed gulls

And that was as far as I got before rain stopped play!

Pete checked Red Nab towards high water

Mediterranean gulls 4 (2 adult and 2 juvenile)

Middleton Nature Reserve 

I did a passing check of the main pond from the car park - Malcolm

Mute Swan 2

Mallard 20+

Tufted Duck 3 males and a female

Coot 10

Moorhen 3

Tufted Duck

Mallard and Black Headed gulls

Janet reported that there were still quite a few Painted Lady around 

Imperial Rd - Malcolm

I had a look around in the brief afternoon sunshine. I have been checking regularly, but there has been little to see. I haven't seen or heard a Buzzard for a few weeks. But 2 arrived today. Not sure if they were the local birds or just passing by. They arrived from the east and proceeded to gain height until I couldn't see them any more. Neither called while they were within earshot.

Common Buzzards

Swallow 7 feeding

Goldfinch and Linnet heard

Stock Dove 1 north

Wood Pigeon at least 7

Common Darter 1 male and 1 female

Male Common Darter

Red Admiral 2

Small White 8

Silver Y

Straw Dot

Two hoppers here.
Meadow Grasshopper (left) and Green Leafhopper (right)