Wildlife on the doorstep......well, kerbside.

Overnight rain turned to clear skies and sub zero temperatures by dawn. A cold NNW wind with sunshine pretty much all day.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

My car was covered in a sheet of ice, I thought the ponds would be iced over too, but the rain must have continued long enough and the ponds were completely ice free (MD).

Just the two main ponds checked:

Mute Swan 5 adult 9 juvenile 

Moorhen 7

Coot 1 - I like this clip, the Coot seems so pleased with its chunk of weed. It evades one group of Gadwall, just to have most of its meal pinched by another. An occupational hazard I suppose if you share a pond with 42 dabbling ducks.

Little grebe 1

Gadwall 40 ( all on the "no swimming" pond)

Tufted Duck 4 males

Shoveler 2 (pair) - I don't know if these are the same male and female that were present last week, but today's birds were definitely together.

Heliport wader roost

Howard managed to read more colour coded Knot rings at high water including this bird - you will need to open the images to see the ring detail.

You can see how the lower outside edge of the orange flag is being worn away by
the rough terrain it often walks through - I have the same problem with my wellies!

This is one of Howard's pictures of the same bird, but taken two years ago.
You can see that the wear had started but not as pronounced as today's shot.

It's nice to see that the Norwegian ringed Oystercatcher is still with us.
It will be a third calendar year (3CY) bird now.

South shore

I was intrigued by Shaun's report yesterday of the Potts corner Brent stopping to feed between the cafe and Ocean Edge saltmarsh, so I timed my walk to coincide with any repeat performance (MD).

Pale-bellied Brent goose 31 - I walked along the shore towards Potts from the saltmarsh on the ebbing tide. No sign of any Brent until I was close enough to see the cafe. The tide was quite a way out by that time, but the Brent were feeding close in on gut weed covered rocks. Unfortunately, it couldn't last for long, as this section of beach gets quite busy as it becomes exposed, as this clip will demonstrate. These birds are well south of the recording area, but soon all 31 will be well within it.

They brazened out the car passing twice, but by 13:45 something else spooked them and they set off north. They shaped to land after about 300m, where there are more gut weed covered stones, but they must have been later in the tide than yesterday, and when they realised that the Red Nab rocks were exposed they continued on and landed there instead. It seemed strange sitting on a rock outside the recording area, watching birds fly into it! It took them almost two minutes to reach Red Nab, this is just the first 500m

They were still feeding on Red Nab when I got back at 14:45 (I'm a bit slower than the Brent!). The tide had already left the rocks then, but there is much less disturbance here than out from the children's play area. But the gut weed is generally cropped much shorter by the Wigeon.

The following records are all on, around or just out from the saltmarsh.

Wigeon 150+ (Out from saltmarsh when tide was still quite high)

Common Snipe 3 (returning to saltmarsh after tide had left it)

Rock Pipit 3

Reed Bunting 5 - this is the first occasion this winter when I have seen more than one here.

Reed Bunting 

Waders just out from the saltmarsh, these high spring tides leave this flat area of mud very quickly, leaving invertebrates stranded, the waders feed quickly - these are Knot and a few Dunlin, not much to see apart from the feeding pattern.

Knot 35

Dunlin 20

Ringed Plover 14

Turnstone 2

Redshank 30+

Finally, this is what today's title refers to. The following clip was looking west from Imperial Rd (the road leading to the "Waste Technology Park" just off Heysham bypass (the 50mph section)). It represents the eastern boundary of the recording area. These two Roe deer were no more than 50m from the bypass, you can hear the traffic.

My first thought was that it was a Roebuck following a doe, but checking the video I realised that they were both bucks.

This is the first one, you can see its proto-antlers forming.

Roebuck with its velvet covered antlers just beginning to form

The antler development of the above buck is typical for so early in the year. The buck behind it, in contrast, has remarkably well developed antlers for so early. They are shed every year of course, but presumably the second buck is more mature and its antlers destined to be impressive. Only four prongs so far, but surely going to be a six pointer.

Roebuck with very developed antlers for so early in the year.
They will continue to grow until the velvet sheds late March to April

So, it would seem that the second male wasn't so much following as "seeing off"!

A bit of wind blown stuff

The strong overnight winds were already easing by 04:00. Although they did continue to be quite strong from the SW. Mainly fine with a few sunny spells but an occasional light shower.

South Shore

Report from Shaun:

Almost all the birds were heading out between 08:30 and 09:15:

Red-throated Diver 2 out

Common Scoter female out

Greylag Goose 10 out

Kittiwake 3 adults + 24 Common Gulls out 

Grey Plover c18 out

Shag juv harbour waterfall early on

Cormorant 64 roosting on wooden pier

Wigeon 172 between the two outfalls

Kingfisher on Red Nab

Rock Pipit 1 harbour wall plus a pair on Red Nab

Just out of the recording area:

25 PB Brent's (including cr pair) Middleton Sands at midday (high tide). 

Then flew and landed on mudflats to feed c300m north from car park/cafe at 13:30 - (At that point they were probably just within the southern limit of the recording area. (MD)

Also on south shore (MD)

Rock Pipits at least 3 in addition to Shaun's 3 including 2 together on saltmarsh.

Jack Snipe 2 flushed from western edge of saltmarsh towards high water. The south and eastern edges not checked.

Pale-bellied Brent goose 4. On Red Nab at 09:20, then this clip of them with the Wigeon over the covered saltmarsh at 10:20. They almost certainly will be some of the 25 described by Shaun above.

Pete and Jean checked the incoming lunchtime ferry:

Kittiwake 4 adult

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just the two main ponds checked:

Mute Swan, the additional aggressive adult must have move on, peace and tranquillity reigned!

Adult 3 x 2. Juvenile 2 + 7

Moorhen 5

Coot 1

Mallard 11 on main pond

Gadwall 39

Tufted Duck 4 male

No sign of Shoveler, Pochard, Wigeon or Teal

Water Rail 1 - unusually seen but not heard - just a glimpse in margin of "no swimming" pond.

Little grebe 1 - this is the first record since the ponds briefly froze over in late November.

No reports received, so far, from the north shore

Barnacle Goose, plus.........a bit of a boys club!

 Fresh SSW wind. Overnight rain stopped early on with just one heavy shower after lunch, otherwise high cloud with some sunshine.

Red Nab - saltmarsh area - high water 10:30

Pale Bellied Brent Geese 9 feeding on the Red Nab gut weed till displaced by the rising tide, then flew towards the Lune estuary.

Wigeon 160 out from the saltmarsh 

Rock Pipit 3 (1 on Red Nab plus 2 together on saltmarsh)

The tide had already covered the marsh so most of the Common Snipe were already long gone but:

Common Snipe 2

Jack Snipe 2 - both the Jack Snipe provided good views, but very difficult to photograph in flight, particularly against the light. Fortunately they have a unique profile. These are my best efforts (MD).

Jack Snipe silhouetted

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just the passing five minute check 

Mute Swan - I thought the aggressive male had returned to the main pond to usurp the four new adult, as there were five adult plus seven cygnets on the main pond, and one adult was chasing adult and juvenile alike. But on checking the "no swimming " pond the original two adult were still there with the other two cygnet.

Mallard 18 on the main pond

The remainder of today's "ducks" were all on the "no swimming" pond. This is where today's "boys club" comment comes from, with the exception of the Gadwall, all today's ducks were actually drakes!

Gadwall 36 (roughly half female and half male)

Tufted Duck 6 male

Shoveler 1 male

Pochard 1 male

Teal 1 male

Coot 1 

Moorhen 5

Shoveler, Tufted and resting Pochard - all males

This clip includes all six Tufted

North shore

Just a quick look from Knowlys Road 

Pale-bellied Brent Geese 19 out from the children's play area mid afternoon. The early afternoon downpour would have done them a favour by deterring walkers. It was still quite quiet when I checked (compared to yesterday). 

Also, seen by Shaun:

Mediterranean gull 1 adult near play area

Barnacle goose 1 with a small flock of Pink-Footed geese over Heysham Village bay

Harbour waterfall 

Another quick check from Fishers side

Shag 1 juvenile 

I've been thinking about what I said the other day about the waterfall being more suitable for the diving birds when the tide is above its outlet. The logic of that is because the gulls can't reach any fish, there are more for the diving birds. But when I watched today with the water level significantly below the outlet, it occurred to me that any fish dropping that height will likely be stunned, so easier to catch, for both the gulls and the diving birds. Either way, I've seen Shag feeding here in both scenarios, although, not when the tide is significantly higher than the outlet (MD)

I took the clip below to demonstrate the process, more than capture the detail of the Shag. It is only poor quality anyway, as the low late afternoon sun was shining from behind. The still below is from the clip and shows the location of the juvenile Shag as it makes a brief appearance towards the end of the clip.

Juvenile Shag feeding below the waterfall 

Just a word of caution about checking from this side. The waterfall is visible, but only in you stand close to the edge of the harbour wall. Recommend only if you are sure of foot, and a good swimmer!

Finally - just in - Kevin Singleton managed a quick visit to the area today and provided these nice high resolution images:

Oystercatcher taking advantage of the pools left by the overnight rain

Pale-bellied Brent geese landing near the children's play area

Pale-bellied Brent - looks like tempers were getting frayed 

Pochard kicks off the 2022 list!

SSW wind overcast in the morning but unseasonably warm and sunny in the afternoon.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just a quick check......with fingers crossed.....it worked!

The water level on the "no swimming" pond was almost back to normal. It is controlled by a pump, but the activation signal doesn't trip till the water level is quite high. Fortunately, when it does activate it continues till the water level has returned to normal. 

Mute Swan 2 lots of 2 adult on the main pond plus 6 cygnet. The original 2 adult plus 3 cygnet (now 2nd calendar year). On "no swimming" pond.

Moorhen 8

Coot 1 back on "no swimming" pond

Mallard 4 on Main pond

Gadwall 38 all on "no swimming"

Tufted Duck 3 male

Teal 2 

Shoveler 1 mature male

Pochard 1 male - we had to wait to the very end of 2021 for the first record last year. Even so, it's not about listing for listings sake, it's about accurately monitoring the progress of a declining species in the area.

Top to bottom - male Pochard, female Teal and female Gadwall

In this clip the Pochard is diving, but it also shows how the weed is even more accessible to the dabbling ducks now, than before the water level rose, presumably its additional buoyancy in the deeper water stretched the weed.

Saltmarsh area - high water 09:40

I arrived too late for the bulk of the common snipe being flushed by the tide, but just at the right stage to check for Jack Snipe. Todays tide at 9.1m and pushed in by the south wind was perfect as it just covered all of the marsh. 

Common Snipe 6

Jack Snipe 1

I am confident that there weren't many if any more Jack Snipe, at least this one did settle again further around the marsh edge. Presumably the very wet weather recently has provided many other feeding areas (MD)

Wigeon 140

Rock Pipit 1

Shag 1 juvenile at the harbour waterfall late afternoon (seen by Pete and Jean).

North Shore

It was a very pleasant afternoon on a weekend bank holiday, everyone and their dogs were out enjoying the weather. Meanwhile the Brent were out, trying to survive, and they did an admirable job weaving amongst the walkers out from the children's play area. Although not so many today and numbers varied, the experienced Canadian pair lead the way and the others follow.

Pale-bellied Brent goose 18 is the highest count that I am aware of so far.

Five Pale-bellied Brent coming in to feed with a group already feeding out
 from Four Lane Ends steps. Their pale bellies very distinctive at this angle.

No Dark-bellied birds seen or reported so far today.

A respectable end to the year.

 Very heavy overnight rain stopped quite early. SW wind with occasional sunny spells.

Saltmarsh area - high water 08:50

Rock Pipit 2

Lapwing 80

Wigeon 180 along saltmarsh 

This clip shows two things, first the activity on the saltmarsh edge, but also how much of the saltmarsh remains exposed on these 8.6m tides.

Even so, these early spring tides do tend to flush more snipe than you would expect:

Common Snipe 39

Jack Snipe 1 - this was actually flushed by me as I walked around the outer saltmarsh edge. It landed again almost immediately in the middle of the saltmarsh.

Peregrine Falcon 1 (almost inevitable with the predictable snipe movement)

Middleton Nature Reserve 

The overnight rain has raised the "no swimming" pond water level by 30cm! Even so the Gadwall seemed to be still reaching some weed, but they had deserted the main pond:

Mute 2 x 2 adult 3 + 6 cygnets 

Moorhen 8

Coot 1 moved to main pond.

Mallard 5 on main pond

Gadwall 35 all on "no swimming" pond.

Tufted Duck 5 male

Shoveler 1 mature male

No sign of Teal, Wigeon or Pochard.

A distinct lack of female Tufted so far this winter!

The diving ducks of course can still reach their food, the Gadwall appeared to be feeding around where the Tufted were diving. Presumably the Tufted were breaking some clumps of weed free to float to the surface (MD).

Pete and Jean managed to check some vantage points but the mid distance haze ruled out any distant searches.

Mediterranean gull 1 adult behind the dredger

Shag one feeding near the green marker post.

North shore

Brent geese

So far no reports from other observers. The following are just my observations (MD). There could have been more as the area was very busy and the birds were in at least two groups.

A walk out to the skear from Four Lane Ends at 13:35 saw only 2 Pale-bellied Brent fly in to the children's play area.

On returning at 15:00 there was a group of 13 on the outer rocks north of the play area, these included 2 Dark-bellied Brent. There was another group of 22 Pale-bellied Brent, including the Canadian ringed birds much closer to the play area. So at least:

Pale-bellied Brent 33

Dark-bellied Brent 2

Very similar to Pete C observation at the same time yesterday.

Heysham skear 

Great Crested Grebe 2

Eider c100

Shelduck 4 out

Knot c150

Redshank c200 (Redshank numbers here always increase when we move to spring tides and more shore is exposed each tide)

Shag 1 juvenile feeding in shallow water. When feeding like this both Shag and Cormorant often snorkel to see what's around, before diving. This one does a bit of snorkelling early in this clip - note how its profile changes after wetting its head.

Well, here we are again....another year over.......another year older! This time last year, I said "at least we can now see some light at the end of what has seemed an endless tunnel" - I must have been using some remarkable optics! Although to be fair we did move into a brighter area for a while, so much so that I had resumed other activities and had planned to use this post to say that my ability to cover as much as I have been doing will inevitably reduce in 2022. But, for now I'm back to being, a self imposed, recluse! So, walking the area will remain my main activity for some while yet. Thanks for all the contributions that have helped me to compile the daily posts. The Observatory team of course, but several post readers have also sent me records and pictures. These are always welcome, and not necessarily of rare sightings, this post is partly about showing what can easily be seen in the Heysham area. So all information is of value, either via any member of the team or directly to me, my email address is on the side bar - Thanks. Malcolm.

Also last year I posed the question as to why the sea birds do not rest on the superstructure of No.2 outflow, and promised, some sort of answer by this year. We have all been watching more intently this year. There were two periods of extended calm weather when a few gulls rested on the upper rails, but not for long. The general consensus is that the outlet water surging around the hollow vertical supports causes vibrations that resonate around the structure, which must somehow be unpleasant to rest on. I am happy that is certainly part of it, but doesn't really explain why in two periods of calm weather the resonance was at least tolerable. 

Black Headed gulls resting on the railings of No.2 outflow, where you would expect them to rest
constantly. This was during the second calm period this year in mid December, when it was also foggy!
I did notice that even when the gulls rested here this year, "resting" wasn't the correct term. They were restless! (MD)

So all that remains is to wish everyone a 

Happy New Year 2022!

Brent numbers increasing again.

A fresh SSW wind all day. Very low cloud in the morning with some light showers. The rain becoming heavy and persistent by the afternoon.

South Shore mid morning

Lapwing 232 on mud out from the saltmarsh 

Common Snipe 5 seen in the sea grass patches just out from the saltmarsh, there were almost certainly many more, but they are difficult to spot and I didn't want to disturb the Lapwing by getting too close. These images were taken on Tuesday when I managed to locate 18. Not great shots but do show where to look, even so, you have to believe they are there before you can spot them (a bit like Fairies! MD).

Just 1 Common Snipe visible here

There are 3 Common Snipe visible in this clump

They remind me of Pheasants, their camouflage is so good that if, in the correct terrain, they remain motionless you invariably wouldn't see them. But long before you get close to them, they take flight. In contrast, Jack Snipe totally trust their camouflage and you almost need to tread on them before they take flight.

Shelduck 78 on mud out from foreshore 

Wigeon 201 - today the tide was ebbing and they flew from Red Nab to the channel along No.2 outflow. It was raining at this point, so again a clip from Tuesday. On this clip, the tide was rising and they were trudging their way towards Red Nab. These are only some of Tuesday's Wigeon.

Rock Pipit 3 (1 on Red Nab plus 2 together on sea wall)

No sign of any Shag in the harbour 

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just a quick look on the way home:

No sign of the Pochard today, which is a shame, I was hoping it would hang around till Saturday! Perhaps it will return.

Mute Swan the 2 new adults were still on the main pond, separate from but not bothered by the 6 cygnets. 2 adult plus 3 cygnets on the "no swimming" pond.

Mallard 4 on main pond

Gadwall 39 (24 on main pond)

Wigeon 2 (pair)

Tufted Duck 4 male

Teal 2 (pair)

Shoveler 1 mature male

Coot 1

Moorhen 8

North shore

Brent Geese 

Report from Pete Crooks:

34 Pale-bellied Brent Geese (including the two regular Canadian colour-ringed birds) and 

2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese close to the promenade off Whinnysty Lane at 3.00 pm.

I had a look from the promenade a little later, even so it was almost dark with the heavy rain. Unfortunately just as I arrived a particularly boisterous dog managed to flush everything, from both sides of the play area, resulting in a flock of 45 Brent geese. Most were Pale-bellied, it was not possible to pick out any dark-bellied as they flew further out, with their backs towards me. Brent numbers here tend to peak on the neap tides, we are moving back towards spring tides now. Anyway, it should  be better viewing weather tomorrow afternoon. (MD)

Dark-bellied Brents - first of winter

A fresh SW wind, rain in the morning eased before lunch, then mainly dry.

Harbour waterfall

Just a quick check from Fishers side 10:10.

Rock Pipit 1

Shag 1 juvenile - this isn't my picture, it's another of Craig's great shots from yesterday. As ever with these high resolution images, please open to see the detail.

Juvenile Shag

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just another quick check

Two new adult Mute swans were on the main pond, the six cygnets were not happy and were trying to drive them off. This adult looks like it has already received a peck on its neck.

The original 2 adult and the other three cygnets were on the "no swimming" pond 

Another cosmopolitan list of wildfowl on the two ponds:

Moorhen 8

Coot 1

Gadwall 41 (20 on main pond)

Wigeon 2 

Tufted Duck 5 male (2 on main pond)

Mallard 10 (main pond)

Teal 4 (2 on main pond)

Shoveler 3 (female plus 2 male, 1 not yet in breeding plumage)

Pochard 1 male

This clip is not very clear, it was still raining. It starts with the Pochard, then the female and mature male Shoveler, then pans across to the other male Shoveler, via the Wigeon pair.

North shore 

Brent Geese:

A walk out to the skear started at Four Lane Ends at 12:40 (MD). A scan from the promenade couldn't locate any Brent geese. When I got to the bottom of the steps, I scanned again, nothing. Then 30 Pale-bellied Brent landed right next to me, no more than 10m away. They came in from the north, I don't know if they had just arrived from the west side of the bay or returning from the skear after being spooked. Either way, when they moved off a bit I backed away and left them to it.

By 12:50 I was approaching the waterline when 3 Dark-bellied Brent flew in from the west side. They were obviously Dark-bellied in flight, this clip shows them circling back and landing on the inner skear just out from Sunny Slopes groyne.

At 13:00 they must have noticed the Pale-bellied birds near the play area and flew over to join them. But it wasn't really the play area today, the gut weed there must be becoming depleted, as I was walking back, they were directly in front of the steps to Four Lane Ends where they landed beside me earlier. Someone was walking down the steps with a dog, so I took this clip to show just how confiding they are here, as long as walkers and their dogs keep to themselves. Most of the geese just continued feeding.

It took me a while to walk towards the play area, then back along the sandy strip that the dog walkers tend to use. In that time four lots of dog walkers passed the geese without spooking them, including a group of three walkers with four dogs. When I got back to the bottom of the steps, I took this clip. It includes the dark-bellied birds and ends with the Canadian ringed pair.

Three Dark-bellied Brent geese with a Pale-bellied bird on the right

Other than the Brents there wasn't a lot going on.

Eider 4

Great Crested Grebe 2

Pete and Jean were also checking from Knowlys Rd. and got the same Brent count as me (always reassuring) but in addition managed:

Mediterranean gull 1 adult near play area.

Plus checking south side

Kittiwake 1 adult briefly at the end of No.1 outflow

No sign of the Black Redstart just out of area

Pochard joins the year list, with just four days to go!

Light WNW wind, the morning rain stopped earlier than expected and the sun came out for a while.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

I didn't have time for a walk this morning, but was planning on my daily quick check of the two main ponds as I was passing. The rain stopped and the sun came out just as I arrived at 10:20 (MD).

Mute, Coot and Moorhen unchanged.

Mallard 12 (all on the main pond)

Gadwall 39 (30 on main pond)

Wigeon 2 

Tufted Duck 3 male

Teal 4 (2 pair)

Shoveler 1 male

The above were on the "no swimming" pond as was:

Pochard 1 male - Pochard have not traditionally merited a bold highlight, but this species has become increasing rare in the area. This is the first observatory record since 27/11/19, 2020 was the first blank year. With a bit of luck, today's bird will hang around to be included in 2022 list.

Drake Pochard

There were no Mallard on the "no swimming" pond, even so an impressive tally of 6 duck species - Pochard, Gadwall, Wigeon, Tufted, Shoveler and Teal. There are five of them on this clip, although the female Teal towards the end is barely discernible 

Children's Play area

Just a quick lunchtime check in passing from Knowlys Rd

Pale-bellied Brent geese 14 (at least)

South shore - late afternoon on rising tide

Common Snipe 18 amongst the patches of sea grass just out from the saltmarsh 

Wigeon 207 were making their way on the rising tide to Red Nab

Not enough water before dark for either the Brents or Kingfisher 

Rock Pipit 3 (Red Nab, sea wall and lighthouse)

Shag 1 juvenile again near the waterfall. 

The waterfall is a return for fish etc from the Power Station cooling water inlet. As such most fish will be alive, albeit disoriented, when they fall down the waterfall. The gulls really need the waterfall outlet to be above the water line, so that they can catch the fish as they hit the water. It is therefore better for the diving birds when the outlet is below the waterline as this prevents the gulls from catching the fish, leaving more for them to catch. The outlet is covered by the tide about 3 hours after low water, this works for all height tides.

I arrived at the harbour 15:20, low water was 12:15, just over 3 hours. The waterfall outlet was covered, gulls were still feeding there, they can still catch stunned fish. The Shag looked like it had already fed as it was just cruising around the upstands, not diving. This clip ends by zooming out, you can see the two upstands and the waterfall is out of sight to the right.

Eventually, it returned for another helping:

I was quite pleased with my shots today (MD), and still am, but these pictures from Craig Bell, are in a different league. These are high resolution images and must be opened to really enjoy the detail.

Juvenile Shag by Craig Bell

Little Egret

Thanks Craig.

A decent variety

Light east wind, mainly overcast but a few sunny spells.

Just my stuff so far (MD)

Heysham skear - low water 11:00 

Pale-bellied Brent goose - at least 25 amongst the rocks out from the children's play area - only checked at distance looking back from the skear.

Shag 1 flew from south side to the north west of the skear and began fishing with the Cormorants 

Red-breasted Merganser 4 (2 pair)

Great Crested Grebe 4 individuals

Eider c130

Teal 1 female - I could see a small duck off the west end of the skear, always promising! Fortunately, it waited till I could get close enough to identify it, before it flew off north. Unfortunately, it was the "least exciting" of the small duck options that I had considered. Still, nice to see out here. At the end of this clip I zoom out to allow size comparison with a couple of male Eider.

Waders:

Oystercatcher c2000

Bar-Tailed Godwit 3 briefly on water line to south of skear

Curlew c50

Knot c200

Redshank c200

Turnstone c30

Dunlin c30

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just the usual 5 minute check - hoping for a Pochard before the year ends, not today!

Mute, Coot and Moorhen unchanged

Gadwall 41 (24 on main pond still)

Wigeon 2 (pair)

Mallard 11

Tufted Duck 3 male

Shoveler 1 male

Teal 2 (pair)

A nice size comparison shot: Wigeon, Coot and Shoveler 

South Shore "late" afternoon on rising tide

Pale-bellied Brent goose 33 - 15:05. They flew from the north side right over my head, then on to Red Nab

You can see from the above clip that I was stood by the lighthouse. This next clip was shot from the same spot, but looking towards the waterfall.

Shag 1 juvenile feeding alongside 3 Cormorants at the waterfall. This clip starts with the Shag underwater, watch for it surfacing on the right hand side near the harbour wall. It has a reasonable sized fish, but wastes no time in swallowing it today. The Cormorants would have tried to pinch it, if it had faffed around as much as the bird I filmed on 16th December. 

Easy pickings, I suspect it will be back for more.

So, not a bad viewing spot at the lighthouse. I only stayed here for 5 minutes today.

Wigeon c100 arriving at Red Nab as I walked out, there seemed more on my return.

Shelduck c20

Kingfisher 1 - it was fishing today and caught one as I walked back

Peregrine Falcon 1 cruising around

Rock Pipit 2 along sea wall

Just out of recording area, information from Pete:

Mediterranean gull 1 adult on lamppost just north of Oxcliffe Rd traffic light junction mid afternoon 

Black Redstart still near blue building mid morning

Still some of the "good stuff" left over

SE to ESE light wind, overcast with some light showers.

Pete and Jean managed a morning visit and located four key species (including the Black Redstart and Mediterranean gull, just out of the area - see bottom of post).

Pale-Bellied Brent goose 25, including the Canadian ringed birds, near the children's play area.

Shag 1 feeding near the green marker post

A quick look on the skear - low water 10:00 (MD)

Eider 100+

Great Crested grebe 4

Red-breasted Merganser 7 - including this distant group of 5, with the 2 males beginning to display (not a great clip, but I have little else different today).

An even quicker look at Middleton Nature Reserve 

Pretty much the same as yesterday, except no Shoveler 

Mute, Coot and Moorhen unchanged

Mallard 13

Gadwall 39 (26 still on main pond)

Tufted Duck 2 male

Wigeon 2 (pair)

Teal 4 (2 pair)

A dusk check of Red Nab

The tide was almost at high water, but at 8.1m it only reaches the outer rocks.

Pale-bellied Brent 25, clearly the birds from the play area this morning, as these also included the Canadian ringed birds. They don't always fly from the north side on this height tide, but they seem to have located a relatively rich vein of gut weed on the SW corner of Red Nab.

Shelduck 58 

Wigeon c80

Kingfisher 1 resting on rock beside the freshwater stream. Not close enough to be fishing though.

Greenfinch 36 - a strangely silent flock flying around, presumably preparing to roost (MD)

Just out of the recording area:

Mediterranean gull 1 adult on lamppost just north of Oxcliffe Rd traffic light junction with Heysham Rd.

Black Redstart 1 female/immature seen by several observers both on the promenade rocks and private gardens by the blue building near Stanley Rd.

Andrew McCafferty has posted a nice shot of it on the Lancaster and District Bird Watching Society blog. This link will take you there if you want a look.

https://lancasterbirdwatching.org.uk/forums/topic/morecambe-black-redstart/