Easy pickings.......for some.

The cold NW winds eased a bit more. A clear start clouding over by lunch, but it remained dry.

South shore

Shelduck 61

GreyPlover 1

Wheatear 2

Rock pipits 3 (1 Red Nab, the ringed male on mid point of harbour wall and 1 near waterfall)

Grey Seal 1 quite distant near No.1 outflow

The dried mud on this Little Egret's feet make them look pink.
More on Little Egrets later.

This Chiffchaff was feeding near the small anemometer, and seemed to be catching lots of small insects.

North shore

Pete and Jean had a "dire" 1.5hr morning sea watch resulting in just:

Red-Throated diver 1 distantly on the sea out from Knowlys 

Bar-Tailed Godwit 1 on Near Naze

Heysham skeer - Low water 16:00

Eider at least 70

No Red-breasted Merganser or Great Crested grebe seen

No Knot either, but at least 250 Turnstone.

This clip may explain why the Turnstones have taken to feeding on the skeer in large numbers. These are two Turnstone and a Dunlin feeding. Watch the Turnstone on the left - it's catching honeycomb worms!

This is the first time I've seen anything eat the honeycomb worms. This Turnstone makes it look easy, you'd think the other waders would also take advantage. These are the honeycomb worm beds on the southern edge of the skeer, which take the brunt of the storms and so regularly reform. This area is recently formed, so not as high and dense as the beds on the north side. The worms do not get much bigger than these, even when the tubes are 2m high! This was the only Dunlin I saw, it seemed to try and copy the Turnstones.

Two Lesser Black-Backed gulls taking a break.

On Saturday Pete counted 13 Little Egret and commented that it seemed a large gathering at breeding season. Today there was only 5, but you can see the attraction, this one catches 4 Common Goby in the duration of this clip.

The west wind colours the shallow water, which in turn brings the gobies closer in than they would normally venture.

Behind the Egret you can see the Turnstone waiting on the Honeycomb worm beds. This was more or less low water, they didn't start feeding on the worms till the tide started rising. That must be the key! Presumably the worm stays at the bottom of its tube until the tide rises and then it moves up to feed. If so, it's only a short window of opportunity before the tubes are covered. I'll check in more detail next visit.

 (Can't wait! I love something new to try and understand.(MD))

Warbling in the snow!

The fresh NW cold wind continued, although not quite as biting as yesterday. Largely sunny in the morning, but snow then hail showers and sunshine in the afternoon.

South shore

Shelduck 26

Wheatears 4

Linnet 2

Rock pipits 5 (1 briefly on foreshore then Red Nab, 2 between lighthouse and waterfall, 2 "agitated" near the, now locked, gate the other side of the waterfall (where Fishers building is being stripped). But the agitation appeared to be due to the dredger working very close to the wall (nest site?).

This is one of the birds between the lighthouse and waterfall, I was trying to see if it was ringed on the right leg (see post 4/4/21), but it was hunkered down against the cold wind, and protected its right leg with all the skill of a fan dancer (MD)

So I cheated and snook around and took a shot from backstage 

Success! So the bird Jean ringed is a mature male defending territory.
This is almost exactly mid point between the lighthouse and the waterfall,
the other bird was directly over the waterfall, so possibly there are three
territories between the lighthouse and, what was, Fishers.

Middleton Nature Reserve - checked by Josh Hedley in the morning

Canada Goose- 2

Mute Swan- 11 on the main pond and another single on the "no-swimming" pond.

Jay- 3 together

Willow Warbler- 2 singing

Chiffchaff- 6

Blackcap- 2 singing

Blue Tit by Janet - it's yellow face evidence of it feeding in the catkins.

North Shore

Red Throated Diver 3 in an hour - ref Pete

Rock Pipits 2 Heysham Head - ref Josh

Osprey 1 was reported heading south along Morecambe Promenade in the afternoon, it isn't clear yet whether it entered Heysham air space or not.

Heysham Nature Reserve - afternoon 

By this time there were short but heavy snow and hail showers, but in between the sun shone.

Chiffchaff 4 

Willow Warbler 2

This short clip gives you an idea of the ferocity of the showers, not just the snow, but the wind increased too

To be fair, the warblers didn't actually sing through this, but they did continue calling, although, drowned out by the wind in this clip.

Roe deer 2, I only managed a glimpse of them disappearing. Unfortunately, not enough to establish if it was a doe with a fawn.

This is my favourite "wild" flower - Snake's Head Fritillary 
When and how it became established here is not clear, but it 
has been self sustaining on the reserve for many years.

There is seldom any milage in videoing flowers, but this clip of these delicate blooms in a hailstorm, to me, has a unique beauty! (MD)

Icy Easter wind - nice day for a swim!

The wind started almost due north then drifted towards NNW. A light snow shower first light, then mainly sunny all day. Even so the icy wind made it cold anywhere that wasn't sheltered.

South shore

Wheatear 1 male in the lee of the north bank of the saltmarsh.

Rock Pipits - at least 2. Early on there was one on Red Nab, but no sign of any along the exposed inner harbour wall. I believe the bird below is the territorial male from the lighthouse area. It was sheltering behind the very end of the sea wall, but high enough to be able to see the lighthouse.

Rock Pipit sheltering just below the sea wall. This bird was not ringed (see yesterday's post)

Later when Janet checked, there was at least one male displaying between the lighthouse and waterfalls.

Rock Pipit parachuting 

This was slightly unusual, the Oystercatchers set off from Red Nab on the ebbing tide. They head towards the feeding areas on the north side at this point in the tide. But as they got higher, the cold blast must have changed their mind, and they quickly landed again,  but they ended up in the sea, and then got washed ashore like so much flotsam. Unfortunately I was slow getting my camera out and most were back within wading distance by the time I took this clip.

It looks more like a scene when the tide is coming in rather than ebbing

North shore

Pete managed a check of the low water channels

Flock of 31 Kittiwake in then landed in Kent channel.  Probably another flock of 14 in but not sure this species.

Eider 148

Great Crested grebe 8

no Red-breasted Mergaser

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just a quick check in passing of the two main ponds.

Mute swan 11 on the main pond (only 1 obviously immature) plus 2 adult on the "no swimming" pond

Canada goose 2 on main pond

Mallard 3 males

Gadwall 2 males 1 female

Three species of warbler heard

Chiffchaff 

Willow Warbler 

Cetti's Warbler (the "no swimming" pond male was singing, this is the third male heard this spring)

Finally, this Grey Heron got out of its depth - it's not often you see a Heron swimming!

It looks about as keen on swimming as I would be! (MD)

Some birds moving through

The breeze had shifted to the west and freshened slightly. Overcast, but dry all day.

No more news on the Common Crane, it was seen and photographed from Fluke Hall area. The photograph has been confirmed as a Common Crane.

Records from Nick Godden viewing from the Stone jetty 07:45 - 09:15:

Greylag goose 2N

Eider 176

Red-throated diver 1

Great crested grebe 4

Herring gull 120

Meadow pipit 114 N

Rock pipit 3 N

Linnet 6N

Siskin 5N

Goldfinch 8N

Pete checked the low water channels and obviously saw some of the same birds:

Eider 170

Great Crested grebe 6

Red-breasted Merganser 3

Just a trickle of movement north, later in the morning past the harbour:

Linnet 15

Meadow Pipit 5

Alba wagtail 2

The highlight of the day (for me at least (MD)) was Jean managing to catch and ring one of the Harbour Rock Pipits. There were two displaying males plus two other birds between the lighthouse and the waterfall. Jean eventually caught a male.

Unfortunately, the plumage difference between adult and immature birds
in spring really requires comparison of the two - not really practical with one bird

This is the trap, which was made by Alan. In this clip there are three Rock Pipits checking it out.

A metal ring was placed on the right leg. Hopefully, the ringed bird will be one of the territorial males, if so, we will soon find out which one. Please check all sightings of Rock Pipits in the area, and report any with a ring (no need to try and read it), including location and behaviour - Thanks

Common Crane - poor timing!

The light, cool, north wind continues, but a pleasant day in the almost constant sunshine.

Common Crane 11:00 watched from Fluke Hall heading towards and into Heysham air space. Unfortunately just after both Pete and myself had left the area!

Pete had managed a quick check in passing:

Osprey 1 - 10:15 distant and went up the river Leven

Eider 154

Great Crested grebe 5

No Red-breasted Merganser

Little Egret 13 around the skeer (a lot for the breeding season).

Other stuff:

Wheatear 1 male on saltmarsh in the morning

Rock Pipits 8 (2 Half Moon Bay beach, 1 foreshore, 2 Red Nab and 3 between lighthouse and waterfall, including two displaying males. Heysham Head not checked)

Just a few birds passing over to north in the morning

Meadow Pipits 10

Alba wagtail 2

Two of several 2nd calendar year Common gulls feeding on the outflows.

Someone asked me this morning why there seems to be almost constant dredging of the harbour, I expect most of you know the answer, but for those that may not, here it is (MD).

The harbour is the wrong way round!

Most harbours and Ports are fed by a water course, a large stream or small river continually flushes silts out of the harbour. Small streams are dammed and water released periodically (normally at low water) to flush away silt. There is no water course feeding Heysham Harbour. On the contrary, it is the feed to two small "rivers" (Power Station cooling waters) that draw water into the harbour.

This is the harbour at low water this morning, not an especially low water.
The dredger is just beyond the harbour mouth. You can see the open
channel for shipping but silt build ups to the left

Looking at the water above, everything looks still, but when you look at the water running out of the two outflows, you have to imagine that volume of water constantly flowing into the harbour. 

Of course the outflows are far from the only factor, there is a huge volume of constantly shifting silts and sands in Morecambe bay. I'm amazed the shipping channels into the harbour remain consistently along the same line, presumably related to the sea bed geology.

The Willow Warblers arrive (yesterday)

A cool night followed by a clear morning with light NW breeze. The cool breeze freshened during the day, but it was quite warm in the sun.

Late report of a Willow Warbler singing in NE corner of Heysham Nature Reserve yesterday morning.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Ringing report from Alan:

Only caught two Lesser Redpolls and one Willow Warbler but wasn't expecting anything with the very frosty and clear conditions. No Meadow Pipits seen at all to the MP3 player.

A few singing Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs.  

Cetti's Warblers - at least two singing, one each side.  

A very pale bird seen against the sun towards the east of the reserve at around nine without optics was probably a Barn Owl.

Later Janet had a look around

Long -Tailed Tit

Greylag goose on the main pond

One of the Mute nests, that's the blue ringed male .

South shore

No Wigeon left, but still a couple of pairs of Shelduck 

Rock Pipits - just one brief call from one on Red Nab. The harbour birds not seen or reported, so far.

Wheatear 1 male on foreshore in the evening

North shore
Whooper swan 34 - 09:20. They came overland, crossing the sea wall c300m north of the children's play area and continued NW towards Grange

Some of the Whooper swans

There were still lots of Red-breasted Merganser, Great Crested Grebe and Eider, but not the same high numbers as early in the week.

Meadow Pipits no more than c20 heard flying north in just over an hour.

Alba Wagtail - just two heard flying north

The anemones in the rock pools are now fully open.

Beadlet anemone - they are normally red like this one, but shades vary and green ones
are not uncommon. Also 3 periwinkles leaving tracks as they feed.

I dropped a broken barnacle (you can't help but break barnacles as you walk over the rocks). Apologies for the poor quality of this clip, but I was feeding with one hand and "filming" with the other.

It will take a couple of minutes, but it will move the barnacle to its mouth in the centre of the tentacles. It will then engulf the barnacle, digest what's edible then regurgitate what isn't. When I was young I kept some in a cold water marine fish tank, if they ever swallow anything nasty they can completely empty their stomach by turning it inside out! Not a pretty sight.

If your really bored, and watch carefully you can seen the periwinkles moving too.

More Whoopers and a Med

The wind had shifted to NE and was significantly cooler. It remained dry with some sunshine.

A check of south side by Pete 

Mediterranean gull 1 - 2nd calendar year bird on outflow

Whooper swan 16 resting on the mud flats

Jean kept out of the cool ENE wind on Heysham Head:

Whooper Swan flocks of 20 and 16

Meadow Pipit 50

Alba Wagtail 6

Grey Wagtail 1

Swallow 6

Chaffinch 1

Rock Pipit 1 - definitely on the move heading north

Rook 2 (first of year - not common here)

Carrion Crow 8

In the low tide channels:

Eider 132

Great Crested Grebe 7

Red-breasted Merganser 4 pairs and 2 extra females

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Red Admiral - I initially posted this record yesterday as being from Heysham Nature Reserve but it was Middleton (my error (MD)). Janet saw it here again this morning.

A fine male Great Tit in full song

Rock Pipits - there were at least 2 between Heysham Head and the high cliffs. None seen/reported from south shore so far.

One of yesterday's Harbour Rock Pipits - by David Talbot

Another colour ringed immature Herring gull in the Harbour today.
This one is part of a NW UK scheme - details awaited.
(I managed to resist the temptation to say something about the 
yawning adult - well, almost)

Quite a bit moving through, plus an early Red Admiral!

The light breeze started SE shifting to west by lunchtime. Plenty of sunshine again.

Visible migration report from Jean:

Heysham Head 0740-1100 All north unless stated.

Pink-footed Goose 1345 in 9 flocks 

Whooper Swan 14 floating in. 

Meadow Pipit 86 in mostly ones and twos.

Skylark 2

Lesser Redpoll 3

Siskin heard but not seen

Linnet 3 plus 5 in the gorse areas.

Chaffinch 1 

alba Wagtail 10

Carrion Crow 4

Goldfinch 2

Sparrowhawk 1 - May have been a local bird spiralling upwards till lost from view.

Grey Heron 3 together high going south

Chiffchaff 3 singing in the wood.

South shore

Wheatear at least 3

Rock Pipits 4

Middleton Nature Reserve - mid afternoon 

Mute swan 9 on the main pond plus one pair nesting, the second pair that had been nesting not seen today.

Mallard 3

Coot 2

Moorhen 4

Jackdaw 27 (22, hopefully, moving through - they devastate the emerging dragonflies)

This clip of a male Bullfinch calling, also includes two other bird songs.

Bullfinch, Great Tit and Chiffchaff 

The remaining buds on the tree that the Bullfinch was eating have emerged (see post 18/03/21)
Showing them to be Blackthorn. You can understand how there would have been plenty of
sustenance in the buds - lots of pollen on the flowers.

Chiffchaff were everywhere, this is the easiest time of year to see them.
Plenty about and still very little plumage on the trees.

Insects:

Between, Kevin, Alison, Janet and myself we managed:

South shore: 

7 spot Ladybird 1

Comma 1

Brimstone 2 (male and female)

Peacock 3

Small Tortoiseshell 5

Middleton Nature Reserve:

Peacock 2

Small Tortoiseshell 4

Brimstone 1 female

Red Admiral 1 - this species is not supposed to over winter in the UK. Spring arrivals from the continent do not usually arrive till May. Janet managed a couple of record shots:

Although in good condition it doesn't look fresh.
So it's either over wintered or arrived very early from the continent (MD)

Finally, the Palmate newts in the pond behind Red Nab are "active". This is a male

Everything was waiting for wind to stop!

After several days of strong SW winds today it was almost breathless with what breeze there was starting from south and making its way around the compass clockwise. Sunny and pleasantly warm.

Report from Middleton ringers by Alan:

Caught this morning:

Chiffchaff  6

Goldcrest  2

Blackcap  1 (first of year)

Greenfinch  1

Reed Bunting  2

Dunnock  1

10 Swallows north (first of year)

13 meadow pipits down to mp3

Pete checked the north side, including the morning low water channels:

Great Crested grebe 16 

Red-breasted Merganser 39, including one group of 15

Eider 323 

Sandwich Tern 1 out along Kent channel (first of year)

Whooper 24 on sea

Pink-footed goose 170 in one flock north (distant)

Pintail pair on the sea

Swallow 2

Jean did a visual migration check from Ocean edge 08:30 - 10-30

Meadow Pipit 178 (including a sudden “fall” of 120 just after 09:00.

Skylark 2 

Pied Wagtail 6

Swallow 13

Linnet 14

Carrion Crow 15

Chaffinch 1

Wheatear 8 female, 2 male

The rest of the south shore located:

Wheatear 8 male 2 female (different birds to Jean's)

Rock pipit 6 

This young Herring gull was ringed in the Isle of Man - details awaited 
Located near the Harbour waterfall by Gareth and Leslie Powley.

Janet checked Heysham Nature Reserve:

One of the several Chiffchaffs

Brimstone 1 male

John Dent checked Heysham Head foreshore:

Rock Pipits at the usual nest site were carrying nest material as I arrived, then were feeding as the tide dropped.

The pipits were chasing off a pair of wagtails. This happened last year but they still had nests very close to each other.

Further North along the shore were two more Pipits feeding on the tideline- this is one of them

Wheatear 1 on the cliff.

Greenfinch 3 singing around the old go cart track area.

Heysham skeer evening low water (MD)

It was a very pleasant evening stroll, but I was grateful that Pete had conducted a thorough count this morning, there were too many birds for an easy count, so I didn't bother. But I can demonstrate why the Great Crested grebe and Red-breasted Merganser are around in large numbers......so are the fish!

These are five Great Crested grebe fishing. The technique is to let one bird scout, as soon as it finds the fish, they all go hunting.

Everything I know about fish here at this time of year, tells me what they are catching are either large Whitebait or small Whiting. But they don't look right, they look like very small Bass, which historically should not be here. But on the back of the large number of fingerling Bass I saw last year, perhaps the times, they are a changing!

Little Gull tops an otherwise, mediocre bill.

The strong SW wind continued till mid afternoon when it started to ease off. Largely dry with just a couple of showers.

Little gull 1 adult was out from the harbour mouth mid morning, in association with the dredger. Unfortunately, it disappeared after the dredger left to discharge its mud.

Nothing else reported from the sea.

Wheatear 3 males on Red Nab

Janet managed to get two of them on this shot. They had been bickering,
it looked to be about who could have the best  rock to shelter behind.

Rock pipits 6 (2 Half Moon Bay beach, 1 Red Nab, 1 sea wall, 1 lighthouse and 1 waterfall)

This is a slightly different angle of the lighthouse bird,
worth opening to see the detail.

Wigeon 8

Shelduck none seen

Red-breasted Merganser 3 on/around Red Nab

One of the two male Mergansers, sorting its feathers out

Yesterday I discussed flotsam, today jetsam gets a mention. Although at one level this is nothing to do with nature, things like this make me try to understand what's going (gone) on and understanding the nature of the sea is partially required (MD)

I was walking towards the low water line out from Half Moon Bay. In the distance, something was lumbering out of the water (Walrus was my first thought/hope!). Optics revealed it to be an old 40 gallon drum!

It has clearly rolled many miles in its time, the raised ridges that drums roll on are largely warn away.
It is also riddled with holes, many of which look like bullet holes. The hemp ropes tided to it are still
available, but are only used for specialist purposes these days

My first thought was that it had been rolling back and forth on the sea bed for many years,
but two things suggest that that is not the case. The hemp ropes were frayed, but they would
 have been much more frayed after years rolling about on the sea bed. But most telling,
no crustaceans. The inside and bottom at least would be covered in barnacles etc.

The final, strange thing is that there is no wear on the rope knots. The ropes must have been tied to drum after it was worn, or whatever was wearing the middle of the drum, didn't reach as far as the knots. Intriguing, I've said it before, but I do like a mystery!  I have two theories, neither provable. Unless someone out there knows something.