Incoming tide check

Never known the grass so wet on Ocean Edge!  Thanks to Malcolm and Janet for selection of pics, including the accreting saltmarsh:

Outfalls/Red Nab etc
Med Gull - 15, including red darvic 2CY and 6 juvs
Little Egret - 2
141 Redshank
Again no sign ad Little Gull

Middleton PM
Swallow - c120 in roost (76 ringed)
Sand Martin - at least one in roost (ringed)

Good effort in marginal weather

Middleton NR
A couple of sheltered nets at Middleton western marsh saw about 25 birds ringed this early morning and some vis mig records

Raven - heard (really scarce recently)
House Martin - flock of 6 south
Swift - 4 south
Swallow - 7 south & 120 ex-roost in central marsh
Water Rail - at least one

The catch included (new birds):  9 Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 each of Reed and Sedge Warbler and three Reed Bunting

Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff completely absent other than two distant calling Willow Warbler.  No vocal evidence of Grasshopper or Cetti's Warblers

Outfalls/Red Nab/Ocean Edge saltmarsh
Med Gull - EIGHT juvs (6 at least unringed) & 6-8 of other ages:  4-5 x 2CY, 1-2 x Ad.   This was on the incoming tide and previous experience suggests some adults may already have headed towards the Lune
No sign of anything else notable eg Little Gull or Greenshank

Grey plover brighten up a day dominated by dunnocks!

Sad to hear that Harry Shorrock has passed away.   I remember him in my early birding days at Leighton moss as a teenager and will miss his yarns.

Birding wise it was all very hard work in a sunny north westerly right in the middle of the gull moult fest.  Four sweeps of red nab produced a new med each time and the grand total of partially hidden rear end birds could have been higher than the 8 (three juvs) but it all went rather Catherine Tate.

Little Egret - flocks of three JUVS Red Nab
Med Gull - Czech-ringed adult roosting at base of heliport seawall
Grey Plover - 27 in summer plumage along shoreline between OE and the DONG pipe

The office saw a record day catch of nine new Dunnocks and not a lot else!

Juv Med further increase!

A bit of outfalls and Red Nab coverage (thanks Malcolm)

Greenshank - presumed same bird still OE saltmarsh
Med Gull - 6 juvs, 5 of other ages
Little Gull - adult summer
Common Gull - the first juv of the autumn

Juv med increase

Middleton nr held seven gadwall today and seven adult and two juvenile mute swan

Outfalls
Little gull - ad summer
Med gull - 11 (5 juvs)

Rain alarm app proves its worth

Ringing at Middleton
A short session before the rain with two nets was timed to perfection thanks to the rain alarm app - taking notice of the main forecasts would have seen the rain arrive about an hour early!  20 birds comprising mainly Willow Warbler and Whitethroat with three Reed Bunting

Outfalls/Red Nab (Malcolm)
Greenshank calling from SE corner of salt marsh 6:30 then from Red Nab 8:00. Didn't see bird on either occasion but confident with identification. Salt marsh was silent at 8:30, so I am presuming this was same bird.
71 Redshank feeding along OE foreshore on incoming tide.
9 Dunlin flew east
1 Little Egret on salt marsh and another on Red Nab

Foreshore Rocks
C20 Pied Wagtail
14 Linnet
1 Meadow Pipit

Outflows
Nothing on No.1
Very nice adult SP Little Gull on No.2 outflow at 7:45 not there at 7:15.
About 6 Med Gulls around (3 juvs)

Greenshank new in

Adult Greenshank in ocean edge low tide channel this am

Gulls scattered all over the place on the early drop tide so only 3 Meds (2 x juv).  Will check later  

Windy but still ok for insects

Red Nab at low tide
26 Med Gulls, including two juveniles and about 6 2CY but some hard to age as they were bit-parts hidden behind rocks.  Just the one juvenile and one 2CY visible on the outfalls

Whimbrel - at least 4

Middleton
Dragonflies at Middleton saw hordes of Common Darter amongst which was this one - I don't think it is a Ruddy as the yellow thoracic sides appear to be hidden in shadow and the legs deceptively dark - also never seen one on bare ground even when they were common here.  Also a Black-tailed Skimmer still, 6 + Emperor, 3 Brown Hawker (thanks Malcolm)

Quick check

11 meds in a quick visit, including three juvs but red nab was disturbed just prior to my arrival and could only find four adults

Routine at low tide

At least three Med darvics to read if anyone able (assuming just one of each colour):
Green
Red
prob White or another pale colour

Med Gull - 29, 20 of these on Red Nab at low tide:  3 x 1CY, 18 x Ad/3CY, 8 x 2CY
Little Gull - ad summer (the 2CY appears to have moved on as coverage has been good this last week)
Whimbrel - 1

Heysham One outfall erratic this am with no food seemingly flowing down early on and no birds on the seaward end at low tide - a Med fest usually