Another ad Med

Missed out on an early morning seawatch due to alarm problems!

Manx Shearwater - one out
Med Gull - 2CY am, Ad pm
Shag - wooden jetty
Lapwing - one Red Nab unseasonal

A nice mixed bag from Janet's travels today - thanks for these Janet

Nothing new today

One brief Rock Pipit sighting

1x 2cy med (one with blackish head)

Shag 2cy around

Linnet breeding in SD35Z -  carrying nest material

Quite a few moths in the trap including Blackneck and Heart and Club

Arctic Skua shock and more Rock Pipit observation

Malcolm was out on Heyshsm skeer pre tide and a light morph Arctic Skua flew close above his head heading into the Bay

At least one Rock Pipit seen carrying nesting material into the power station this pm - must surely have almost finished building a ??(time of year) second attempt

Both of the 2cy meds were on Red Nab

2CY Shag wooden jetty

Breeding Rock Pipit

Two were seen together on Thursday with one carrying nesting material.  Unfortunately the observer had to leave before they could track the bird to the nest site.  Awkward time - the ringing team don't seem to have any time to follow this up and the same goes for any of the rest of us.  Watch this space and hopefully not predated before we can absolutely confirm a nest site (I've not seen either of the two birds and they are incredibly elusive)

Note the nesting material carried by bird on the left

Family party of Pied Wagtail and a few Linnet in the same area

Shag still present on wooden jetty - another novelty - a summering Shag!

Sat 16th

Lift off with seagulls

2 x 2CY Meds - one with mask, the other with blackish head
250 Black-headed
35 Common

Shag - 2CY

2 x Little Egret Red Nab

160 Curlew Red Nab

Friday 15th

3 x Manx
Shag
2Cy Med with mask

Decent seawatch and an interesting development

Sea 0830ish to 1345 with virtually nothing after 1230 with clearing skies and dropping wind

Manx Shearwater - 196 out with highest density about 1200-1215 just before the Stormie as thought the Bay was 'emptying out' as the weather cleared
Storm Petrel - one out about 1222-23hrs (Pete) - Knowlys Rd VP definitely best height for petrels - on view all the time
Fulmar - 3 out - one cliff-hugging, two distant
Bonxie - one out mid-am (Tom), one out 1240 (Matt but also seen from Far Arnside)
Kittiwake - flock of 23 out, a few after I left
Sandwich Tern - 1
prob Guillemot - one out
Gannet - just 5 adult and one 2CY out
Bar-tailed Godwit - two unseasonal birds out
Common Scoter - 1
Swallow - one north over sea!

Tom, Matt and Pete at various times

Rock Pipit - pair with nesting material!!!!   Watch this space after tomorrows investigation

Warning

There were two dangerous off-lead dogs on Middleton NR and surrounding area today with a single male owner.   They were either Dobermann or very similar.   A photographer was attacked and bitten on the back of the leg after repeatedly having to fend one of them off.   Unacceptable.  Any other incidents/idea who this is please?

Incoming tide outfalls/ocean edge
2cy med gull
Black-headed gull - 175
Common gull - 16
Whimbrel - 1

No news today

Nothing received today but a one-off summer sea-watch coming up on Thursday with 40 mph SW going W on the incoming tide.  Please note that the best time to see any possible Storm Petrel is often as they fly out on the dropping tide so a post-tide watch worth it

Yet again no Red-veined Darter yesterday - that's it I suspect

Still haven't got the seagull breeding info so that will be updated tomorrow

Fluffy things on rooftops

Gull nest count day - haven't got the figures though - update tomorrow

First 6-spot Burnet of the year - thanks Janet