Great Northern Diver

Overnight gale force SW winds with rain of biblical proportions! Daylight saw the winds eased slightly with some extensive gaps between the very heavy showers.

Great Northern Diver - located from Stone Jetty by Dan Haywood at 12:30 and picked up as it flew out from Near Naze by Pete.

These excellent pictures from Dan

It doesn't look it, but these pictures were taken in the teeth of a gale!

Unfortunately embedding pictures into a blog degrades them slightly, to view the originals and access other information, Twitter users can follow ⁦@LDBWSnews⁩ 

Other sightings from Dan:

Five Great black-backed Gulls paused while flying out, not as I first thought for a rest (strong headwinds) but to attempt to catch one of the three Great Crested Grebes feeding offshore. 

An adult Kittiwake & Gannet 'in' 

Also from Pete:

Two redhead Goosander flew high to the north over OE/red nab/wooden Jetty 

Razorbill/Guillemot 2 distant out

Kittiwake 1 adult on outflows early pm.

South shore (MD)

Sandwich Tern - 1 first winter bird battled past the wooden jetty 10:20. 

A rubbish picture, but adequate to confirm a quite late record

Shag - 1 first winter bird out from the saltmarsh before flying west

Linnet c50

Common snipe 6

I left before the saltmash was fully covered, so no Jack Snipe

Not much change

The winds were still strong from SW, but not quite as strong as yesterday. Showers in the morning, then almost constant and increasingly heavy rain from lunchtime onwards.

Pete took this shot of a solitary Black-Tailed Godwit
On the heliport roost.

Saltmarsh just before high water (11:30)

Wigeon 134

Mallard 2

Common Snipe 8

Jack Snipe 2 confirmed, 1 probable

Ringed Plover 3

Redshank c100

Linnet c50

Some of the Linnet

Middleton Nature Reserve

Just a quick check of the "no swimming" pond at lunchtime 

Gadwall 28

Shoveller 6

Little Grebe 1

This Herring Gull was waiting out the tide on Ocean Edge, its upper mandible is overgrown. It looks like it has had some trauma at the base of the lower mandible, which may be the cause. But, apart from that it looks fine (MD)

Strong winds, not really providing.....yet.

Strong wind all day, starting from south then moved SW. heavy showers throughout the day, but less frequent by the afternoon.

 Two orange flagged Knot were read on heliport wall - details awaited.

Whooper Swan - 13, including 2 juvenile were heading south before the heavy rain forced them to land on the sea out from Knowlys Rd (thanks to Mr Sharples for this record). 4 adult south 14:40.

Saltmarsh - high water 11:00.

Today's 9.08 metre high tide would not normally cover the saltmarsh, but with the southerly wind driving it in and the low atmospheric pressure, it did.

Common Snipe 2 (almost certainly more flushed earlier)

Jack Snipe 2

Linnet c40

Wigeon c50

Mallard 2

The only bird found to be sheltering in the harbour, was this Redwing!

The eye stripe breaks up the head shape quite effectively 

Middleton Nature Reserve "no swimming" pond

Gadwall 22

Shoveller 4

Little Grebe 2

Goldeneye 1 female

Two brief checks today,

This morning it was feeding

By 16:00 it was just preening and swimming around with the Gadwall

It finally stopped!

The wind was much lighter today, as was the early rain. The rain finally petered out by mid morning, after that the sunny spells became longer and the afternoon was quite pleasant.

Heliport area (PM.MD) 

As the tide covered the rocks in front of the Heliport just 39 Common Snipe flew to the heliport grass, and 20 of those came from further north. Much fewer than early in the week, presumably a reflection of the amount of waterlogged ground there currently is in the area.

This is a slightly different view view of the Oystercatchers roosting on the heliport wall. It was still raining and quite dark at this time, as can be seen by the light above them.

Later Pete somehow managed to identify a ringed bird amongst those roosting on the near naze.

JE right leg (white ring with black letters)
 red over white left leg

Identified as a bird ringed in May this year in Iceland

There was also a Dutch ringed Knot, that managed to evade complete identification.

Rock Pipit 3 below slipway near the cafe.

Red Nab

Not much, these three Red-breasted Merganser were feeding in the shallow central pool as the tide came in.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Mute 3 adult 3 + 1 Cygnet

Moorhen 10

Coot 6

Teal 4

Gadwall 3

Shoveller 4

Little Grebe 2

Water Rail 3

Cetti's warbler 2 singing

Chiffchaff 1 calling

Grey Wagtail 2 unringed birds grounded before setting off SE

It rained!

The overnight wind had eased slightly and shifted to SSE, but it quickly shifted back to SW and freshened. Rain all day varying from torrential to extra torrential!

I think there was only me daft enough to venture out (MD)

Middleton Nature Reserve - no swimming pond

Very little in the morning, just:

Gadwall 2

Shoveller 3

More impressive mid afternoon:

Gadwall 12

Shoveller 3

Teal 4

Little grebe 3

South shore

Kingfisher on Red Nab towards high water

Red- breasted Merganser 2 - as above

Skylark 1 on saltmarsh 

Rock Pipit 1 near lighthouse 

Mediterranean gull 1 adult sheltering in the lee of No.2 outflow with the Black-Headed gulls.

It had rained all day, and throughout my afternoon walk along the south wall and back, but when I got back to the saltmarsh (16:10) it eased, then stopped. Within a few minutes everything on the saltmarsh lifted, including:

Lapwing c80

Common Snipe 10+

I eventually located the cause an "owl", by this time heading towards Potts Corner. It was likely to have been a Short-eared Owl, but unconfirmed. Presumably it had been resting close by waiting for a gap in the rain.

It wasn't a day for photography, my camera was stashed well away from the rain. But I did take this shot of the gulls roosting behind No.2 outflow, the same shelter allowing me some protection.

The Mediterranean gull is amongst these, and I think the resolution should just be good enough for it to be discernible.

A better variety

The Southwesterlies continue to increase. Some very heavy showers, some of hail, but some sunny periods as well.

Check of the sea, from Pete

Kittiwake 14 out - record from yesterday morning

This morning:

Guillemot 2

Razorbill 1

Razorbill/Guillemot 5

Kittiwake 1 juvenile blogging plus distant outbound flock of at least 5

South Shore - high water 09:30 

Rock Pipit 1 on Ocean Edge foreshore 

Wigeon 115 on Red Nab

Mediterranean gull 1 on Red Nab.

Mediterranean gull (top) with BHGs and Wigeon

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Little grebe - at least 3 on "no swimming" pond, still a few skirmishes, but not as frantic as yesterday.

Gadwall 7

Shoveller 5

Teal 4

male Teal seen through the bushes

Goldeneye 1 female - first record this year since a male on the skeer on 2nd January (it seems like another lifetime!)

Initially on the main pond

Then moved to the "no swimming" pond

Female Goldeneye with three of the Shoveller

Grebe wars

Strengthening SW winds, showers early on developing to almost constant rain.

Only my stuff so far, possibly more to come (MD)

Ocean Edge area - high water 08:45

The 7.9 metre tide is not high enough to cover the mud, but it does bring the waders closer in. Nothing exciting today but still plenty around the saltmarsh:

Shelduck c30

Wigeon 3

Little Egret surprisingly only 1

Lapwing 77

Knot 63

Grey Plover 1

Redshank c20

Oystercatcher c100

Curlew 6

Common Snipe 1

Rock Pipit 3 (2 on the rocky promontory on east side plus 1 on foreshore)

Linnet 48 - a big increase on recent checks

Middleton Nature Reserve "no swimming" pond

I just had a quick look before the rain became constant.

Gadwall 10

Shoveller 6 - I think this is the highest count from here. 2 female type birds plus 4 males in varying stages of eclipse/first winter plumage.

This male was very "distinctive"

Little Grebe - at least 5 birds, probably more, including at least 2 in partial summer plumage. Pete advises that the influx is probably birds displaced by flood water in the river Lune/Conder.

Unfortunately, the refugees were not welcome! 

Everywhere I looked one bird seemed to be chasing another.

Most were direct charges 

But these two appear to be setting off for a honourable duel

Including seconds!

Green marker post returns

Strong winds from WSW to west. Very heavy showers with some sunshine.

You know it's been a quiet day when the headline refers to a metal post! Still it's good to have the green marker back, out from Heysham Head.

It's fixed on the same old surface water drain,
so all old bearings will still be valid.

From Stone Jetty

Kittiwake 1 adult out

Eider 68

Heliport 

Common snipe - at least 80 in front of heliport wall

Common Snipe

Common Snipe with a few Lapwing 

Rock Pipit 2 - one below high cliffs at Heysham Head and one around the central slipway Half Moon Bay.

This is the slipway Rock Pipit

This, large, female Sparrowhawk had just caught a collar dove
A male was also hunting

Kittiwake surprise

It started off much like yesterday with heavy showers, but the gaps between them increased with more sunshine. By afternoon it was mainly sunshine. The wind was quite fresh initially south then SW.

Rock Pipit two on the saltmarsh 

Pete and Jean checked the low water channels, not a lot around on these neap tides but an unexpected flock of 7 adult Kittiwake "flew out for a blog".

Eider 17

Great Crested grebe 5

Middleton Nature Reserve - mid afternoon (MD)

It was good to have the sun on my back, makes a change from driving rain!

Mute status unchanged, the solitary cygnet is being fed by visitors.

Gadwall 27

Shoveller 3

At least one of these birds is different to yesterday. Then 1 male + 2 female type. Today 2 male + 1 female type.

Little Grebe 2 on "no swimming" pond

This one in winter plumage (possibly first winter)

This one, with Shoveller, Gadwall and Coot,
 in fading summer plumage.

This is the sp Little Grebe taking flight.
Not easy with such a dumpy frame!

Water Rail 1 calling

Chiffchaff 1 calling

Thrushes - not a lot, probably no more than 20 off passage. Only Blackbird and Redwing seen.

Redwing feeding on the relatively sparse hawthorn berries this year

A compete washout - well, almost

Winds from the south to SW. Heavy rain in the morning, giving way to alternating heavy and not so heavy rain in the afternoon!

Nothing of note on the south shore in the morning. Just before I squelched back to my car, I came across a very large feeding mixed tit flock below the small anemometer, but by that time my optics were useless with condensation. At least one warbler (Chiffchaff) seen plus at least one Goldcrest heard. Shame conditions weren't better.

Middleton Nature Reserve - mid afternoon

Mute 4 adult 3 + 1 cygnet 

Mute Swan and a Cormorant 

Coot 5

Moorhen 8

Gadwall 10

Shoveller 3

Little Grebe 2 (winter plumage bird on "no swimming" pond. Partial summer plumage bird on Tim Butler pond)

Common Snipe 5

No warblers seen or heard

This Dunnock summed up the day!