A good soaking...........day one of two!

Quite fresh SSW wind with rain pretty much all day.

Pete and Jean managed to check the south side sea, but nothing on the outflows or behind the ferry.

Black Redstarts 1 + 1. A brief glimpse in passing of the Power Station bird, before it disappeared behind several fences within the Power Station. If you want to see a Black Redstart, much better to check out the Sandylands bird (better in that it is not in a security sensitive area and generally easier to find). This is Pete's description of today's sighting location: by plastic gnome north of blue house, Sandylands, then flew to sea defence rocks.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Mute Swan 6 adult 7 second calendar year 

Moorhen 8

Coot 2

Mallard 13

Gadwall 30 (numbers reducing)

No sign of the Wigeon pair

Shoveler 3 (2 female 1 mature male)

Tufted Duck 2 male

North Shore low water

It had rained on and off all day, but it really made and effort this afternoon and lashed it down all the time that I was out on the shore (MD)

Eider c120 - this is the largest group, the benefit of a strong wind is that you can keep your camera "dry" with your back to the wind. (Not an overly exciting clip, but there was little to choose from today!)

Great Crested Grebe 2 - this clip is slightly more interesting, but unfortunately rubbish quality. The grebe has just caught a reasonable sized fish. But note how easily it is swallowed.

Although the fish looks large in relation to the grebe, I think it is only a large Whitebait. The only other fish that colour here would be a small Bass, there are a few still around in winter, but a Bass that length would be much too round to swallow so easily. Whitebait are very thin cross section, there was one on the beach here yesterday, I had presumed that it could have only become stranded, on such a calm day, if it had been disoriented by being chased by something. This is yesterday's Whitebait.

Yesterday's stranded Whitebait, smaller than the one today's grebe caught. Presumably
 it ended up running aground after being chased. A gull will have  found it soon after this. 

Red-breasted Merganser 2 (pair)

Red-breasted Mergansers

Waders, again mainly Oystercatchers. 

Curlew - A flock of 20 lifted from the skear and flew off inland to the east.

Also in small numbers: Redshank, Knot, Turnstone and Dunlin

Pale-bellied Brent goose 18 minimum - just a check from Knowlys Rd on my way home.

The forecast tomorrow is for more rain......I can hardly wait!

Not much, but a hint of movement

A cold SE wind and clear skies resulted in an overnight frost. The cloud cover quickly increased but still plenty of sunny spells. The wind had moved to SW after lunch.

South shore - mid morning ebbing tide

Wigeon c150 - Red Nab was clear of water, these neap tides barely reach it, but the Wigeon were in the channel along No.2 outflow

Shelduck 38 - bizarrely these have been feeding on the mud till these neap tides. There was no other wildfowl on Red Nab today, but it was "right" for the Shelduck to feed here. I did notice that they were taking a sip of water regularly from the pools, and possibly using it to wet the gut weed. This may give them an advantage over the shorter necked Wigeon for feeding here when the weed is "dry", but doesn't explain why they tend not to feed on the rocks when the feeding is easier.

Rock Pipit 6 (saltmarsh, 2 on Red Nab, sea wall, ringed male at lighthouse and male displaying near waterfall)

Again, no Shag seen in the harbour

Skylark 3 together flew south over Ocean Edge at 11:00.

North shore

Pale-bellied Brent goose 25 - 9 out from the play area plus 16 along the skear edge in the SE corner. They are still finding some broken weed, plus there is signs of the gut weed growing again here, although it is far from "lush". I noted last year that within a couple of weeks of the Brent leaving there was gut weed all around the skear.

It doesn't look exciting, but this is what they prefer to feed on. It is a piece of sea lettuce broken from its bed by the weekend storm. This piece was along the beach and quite isolated, but the wind and the tide will concentrate whatever there is into the skear corner.

Sea lettuce fragment left on the beach by the ebbing tide.
This is what the Brent in the skear corner are after.

Eider 72 counted close in to the skear

Oystercatcher c2,000

Knot c1,000

Also: Curlew, Redshank and Turnstone - no Dunlin seen today

Possibly more to come, but probably not.

Much of the same, but signs of change

A fresh SW wind, mainly high cloud and sunny spells till mid afternoon then a few showers.

Heysham Nature Reserve (MD)

It was a cold wind this morning, so a short walk around this sheltered reserve was pleasant. Plenty going on although just the regular residents.

There were almost as many mammals on view as birds, rabbits everywhere, looked like they were looking for more than food! A couple of Grey Squirrels and a Roe Deer, female I think.

Bullfinch 4

Goldfinch 10+

A mixed tit feeding flock passed through the alder copse. You only get a glimpse of each as they move through the scrub quickly, so I strung four clips together, Long-Tailed, Blue, Coal and Great Tits. Note the Long-Tailed and Blue Tits are ringed:

In contrast to the camaraderie of feeding flocks, this Blue Tit on Middleton yesterday seemed to be defining its territory boundaries.

Talking of territories, this Robin wasn't happy as the Tits passed through. Once again, it reacts to the click of my camera as I alter focus. Although this is an obvious click on the video, in reality it is very quiet. It must just be the right (or wrong) pitch for small birds hearing range. 

Sparrowhawk 1

Mallard 2

Moorhen 3

North shore inner skear

These very low neap tides only just uncover part of the inner skear.

Pale-bellied Brent goose 45 - originally they were still feeding on broken weed on the water line, but as the tide turned they all moved to the rocks out from the children's play area. This is a nice clip of two on the water, you can see the clumps of weed washing in, but this is mainly wrack and ignored. They seek out the broken pieces of sea lettuce.

Eider c80

Waders were mainly Oystercatcher, but also Knot, Redshank, Turnstone, Curlew and Dunlin.

Dunlin, blending nicely into the background 

This 2nd winter Herring gull has a small crab. It has done very well finding one on the shore this time of year. After "disarming" the crab, it is swallowed whole. Also, Dunlin, Redshank and Oystercatcher.

Just out of the recording area, Craig saw the Sandylands Black Redstart.

Nothing new, but at least the sun shone!

A lightish west wind, some light showers, but the sun shone for most of the day.

Just my afternoon outing so far (MD)

North shore mid afternoon on the rising tide

Pale Bellied Brent goose 45 - they were still managing to find enough broken weed on the tide line, till the tide reached the rocks. Then at 14:05 they flew to the rocks out from the children's play area. 

This clip starts with a group of four, which includes the Canadian arctic ringed pair. You can see bits of weed in the water, although most of it is brown weed now, which I've never seen them eat. Another flock of 8 birds fly in and join the main group.

Shortly after the group of four flew over and joined the main group too, you can make out the colour rings on the two lead birds.

Pale-bellied Brent geese, including the colour ringed birds

They are surprisingly difficult to count, on the shore I counted 37, then counted 28 and 14 flying over to the play area. But on this clip of them feeding near the play area I can count at least 45. There are also Turnstone and Black-Headed gulls.

Mediterranean gull 1 adult - this is the same regular bird, although at this resolution you can't make out its crossed bill tips. I videoed it here on Monday when it flew in with a group of Black-Headed gulls and started drinking greedily. Today it sipped at the fresh water run off, like a fine wine connoisseur. I speculated on Monday that it and the BHG were washing down a recent feast, today it just looked to be enjoying a pleasant drink.

This was a surprise, and a credit to the Council. These steps were partially blocked by large boulders after the weekend storm (see picture on Monday). But today they have already been cleared, not as easy as it sounds.

The steps below Whinnysty Lane now cleared of the boulders from the weekend storm

Middleton Nature Reserve 

I actually had a short walk around today, but saw little more than than my regular quick visits.

Wildfowl, pretty much the same, but only 7 immature Mute Swans (2 absent). The "no swimming" pond was peaceful today even with only a few less Gadwall (34).

Woodcock 1

Buzzard 3 (1+2) beyond the eastern boundary of the Reserve, but within the recording area boundary.

Roe Deer - again none seen, but many of the seldom trod tracks had fresh Roe Deer footprints.

One of the less used tracks showing typical Roe Deer tracks

Drizzle.......pretty much sums up the day

Lightish WSW wind with low cloud and light rain all day.

I didn't have much time today, but doubt I would have seen much more if I'd strolled around all day (MD).

Indeterminate wind, tides at a point between spring and neap, and the constant fine rain (the sort that gets you wet), nothing likely to produce any different wildlife.

South shore mid afternoon 

Pale-bellied Brent goose 3 on Red Nab at 15:00, this is quite early in the tide for Brent. At this height tide, it's all down to the level of disturbance on the north side as to whether any at all come to the the south side.

Wigeon c200 - these at least were enjoying the weather, not because it was lovely weather for ducks, but because it was sufficiently dreary to deter (most) people from walking along the sea wall. So they took advantage to feed close in to the wall, some actually feeding on the gut weed on the sloping wall.

Shelduck 42 - half each Red Nab and saltmarsh 

Oystercatcher - these arrive from their feeding grounds, sometimes in their thousands, to roost on Red Nab, so much so that they rarely get a mention. But I'm sharing this clip of a few flying past the lighthouse today, not so much for the video, but the light winds meant that you can hear them calling as they pass.

Rock Pipit 1 - the ringed male Lighthouse bird was standing guard over the nest site again.

The male lighthouse Rock Pipit, looking quite dark in the rain

No sign of any Shag again.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

The only wildfowl on the main pond were Mute, Mallard and Moorhen. The following were all on the "no swimming" pond

Gadwall 38

Wigeon 2 (pair)

Shoveler 4 (2 female plus 2 male)

Tufted Duck 3

Moorhen 4

Coot 2

Little grebe 2

It was a noisy pond this afternoon, the male Gadwall were displaying and several birds were vying for positions.

These two at least, seemed happy with the outcome.

It was still quite early (16:00) when I left, but there were no sign of any Jackdaws gathering, perhaps the strong winds have forced them to roost elsewhere. I'll have a proper look one day when I have more time.

Unfortunately, I'm busy again tomorrow, but I should manage to get out somewhere in the afternoon. 

Just out or the recording area. Pete saw the Sandylands Black Redstart 

It's an ill wind.........

South winds today, SSW in the morning more SSE in the afternoon. Mainly overcast with some showers.

North shore

These are the steps below Whinnysty Lane, they took a battering during the weekend storm. 

An earlier storm this year started the damage, but the weekend storm left this,
these are not small boulders!

Pale-bellied Brent goose 25 - a lady at yesterday's event asked how the sea and shore birds manage through the storms. The answer is that most healthy birds can cope with short spells of most extreme weather. And storms sometimes can provide new opportunities, today the Brent were taking advantage of such an opportunity. There were none feeding near the children's play area, instead they were strung out along the low water line near the green marker, feeding on broken weed left behind by the storm. They looked so much more at home feeding miles from any disturbance!

The beach slopes down quickly here, these birds would not have been visible from the shore.

This clip was on the way back looking from the skear, it wasn't practical to take a shot of all the birds as they were strung out over several hundred metres of shore line.

Another consequence of storms is that some birds find themselves displaced, two species were on/around the skear that are only seen rarely here.

Wigeon 7

Common Snipe 3

Also:

Great Crested Grebe 6

Red-breasted Merganser 2

Eider 100+

On the way back, the rocks around the children's play area were still deserted apart from a group of Black-Headed gulls with 

Mediterranean gull 1 (the regular bird that also frequents the lamppost) - in this clip the Med starts top left (then follow the white wings). The whole group fly to a groundwater run off, they all seemed to need a drink. It was 10:40, so perhaps they were just returning after a breakfast near the lamppost (MD)

South shore

First an update:

Siskin 1 seen by Kevin near the small anemometer on Friday

Today

Pale-bellied Brent goose 44 - these will include this morning's birds. Three lots arrived at Red Nab, 34, 2 and 8.

Wigeon 200+

Shelduck 15

Lapwing 16

Common Snipe 15 flushed from saltmarsh edge by the rising tide

Rock Pipit 4 - saltmarsh, Red Nab, sea wall and waterfall 

I have had some enquiries about yesterday's guided walk along the south wall. These are the details, I know Deborah is planning future, similar events.

Organised by: Deborah Woods Community Engagement Officer as part of The Bay:A Blueprint for Recovery (it’s a multi partnership project with Eden Project North and the Lancashire & Cumbria WildlifeTrust, The NHS and Postcode Lottery)

At least one of the Little gulls still around

The continuing very strong west wind in the morning veered more to the north, but no more than WNW by the afternoon. Some very heavy showers, some of hail.

South shore late morning flood tide.

Little gull 1 adult seen by Shaun from the south shore, heading toward the north side.

A group walk along the south shore, organised by "The Bay:A Blueprint for Recovery" was very fortunate with the weather, we just caught one short squall as we were leaving. But slightly unfortunate, as some of the regular recent birds failed to show today. No matter, today (and future events) was about showing interested people local walks so that they can enjoy the wildlife whenever they wish. 

Wigeon c150 in the channel next to No.1 outflow  waiting to get to Red Nab.

Shelduck 23 arriving at Red Nab as we were leaving

Pale-bellied Brent goose 36 - flew past the lighthouse on their way to Red Nab

Two of today's party watching the Brent fly past the lighthouse 
It was the cloud on the horizon that eventually caught up with us

Lots of Curlew showing well as they battled high against the wind, also Oystercatcher and Redshank. Unfortunately, no Shag on show (after showing so well in previous days), and even more surprising no Rock Pipits seen or heard - still a good time was had by all.

Horse paddocks 

Mediterranean gull 1 adult - ref Pete

I checked at high water again, no sign of yesterday's Little gulls or Sanderling but there was this "group" of 41 Ringed Plover. I put group in inverted commas as they did seem to be quite socially distanced.....

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just a quick check on the way home

Wildfowl pretty much unchanged, although we are back to two female and two male Shoveler. One male not yet in full breeding plumage. I actually took this clip yesterday to demonstrate the difference between the two male plumages.

This clip is from today, it starts with two Little grebes. Watch the one on the left, it has caught a fish. I know there are Perch in this pond, but this fish doesn't look like a Perch, but presumably it is, as the only other fish I can think of like this would be a Minnow. But this isn't typical Minnow habitat, plus this fish takes a bit of swallowing, which would be required for a Perch which have very sharp dorsal fin spines.

Little gulls cap a slightly surreal day

Very strong SW wind all day with plenty of showers.

From Pete:

Ringed Plover 27 on south shore grass, an unusually large winter number here.

Kittiwake 1 first winter out from the wooden jetty

Red-Throated Diver 1 out

Mediterranean gull 1 adult on the horse paddocks (looked to be the lamppost bird)

Little gull 2 (at least) The SW wind was driving in the high spring tide over the sea wall by the children's play area and creating large pools in the horse paddocks. Tommy Wilmer reported a Little gull there, Pete located an adult and let me know, fortunately I had just donned my waterproofs so I went for look.

But Alan Physick beat me to it and managed this shot a Little Gull with a 

Sanderling in the background.

Little gull on one of the pools, you can just make out the Sanderling top left

By the time I'd got there the tide was ebbing and the pools receding. No sign of the Sanderling but there was a

Rock Pipit 1

There was an adult Little gull flying around, it looked to me (MD), that it was finding worms drowned by the saltwater pools and then exposed as the water levels dropped. If so, it is some opportunism for a dedicated sea bird. This clip is typical of its activity

This shot shows the location, just beyond the wire perimeter fence. Although the birds were close the combination of being buffeted by the wind, the constant sea spray and looking through fencing made focusing very difficult.

This shot is looking back towards Knowlys Rd

It was only when I'd got home and checked through my pictures, that I could confirm that there were at least two Little Gulls.

Not a great shot, but two Little gulls

This one has particularly dark underwings 

This one has paler underwings although no sign of any dark primary wingtips 

Heysham Harbour (MD)

I went down mid morning, couldn't find anything on the sea, but....

Shag 3 juvenile 

One on the steps near the lighthouse again, I thought it was struggling as it had its head under its wing, it looked at me when I made a noise, then put its head back under its wing, although it did keep one eye on me.

Juvenile Shag, keeping one eye on me, but making no attempt to move

I left it in peace, but feared the worse. Checking the waterfall from the lighthouse, there were two more juvenile Shag feeding. But perhaps I shouldn't have worried, without any disturbance the steps Shag climbed to the top of the steps then waddled all the way along the harbour wall towards the waterfall. Probably not coincidental, that this coincided with the tide just covering the waterfall outlet, a point in the tide where I suspect the fishing advantage switches from the gulls to the diving birds. This is just a portion of its journey.

But, perhaps worry is still in order. When it had waddled to the waterfall, the kindest description is that it....."fell in"!

At the end of the above clip, I pan out, expecting to pick up its flight. Instead, it landed just in front of the harbour wall.

Perhaps its graceless decent was intentional as it landed just a short swim from the 
waterfall. I still can't decide if it is a healthy regular bird or a new weak/injured bird (MD)

A poorly timed squall?

The strong wind was much less north than forecast, more or less due west. Some short heavy showers in the morning with increasing periods of sunshine throughout the day.

Heliport wall - Howard

Two more colour ringed Knot read:

Another excellent in flight shot

Another great shot, but what I really like are the two Oystercatcher
eyes peering from bottom left (MD)

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just a quick check of the wildfowl, things pretty much the same, but today's Shoveler combination was one male in full breeding plumage plus three female. Four male Tufted. Two each Coot and Little grebe one trilling. This clip is really about Coot feeding, but includes: Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler and Tufted:

South shore late morning (MD)

Pale-bellied Brent Goose 22 on Red before moving off towards Potts Corner

Greylag Goose 4 flew into the bay

Shelduck 5

Wigeon 278 (again counted as they moved in to Red Nab)

Eider 4 male out

Rock Pipit 1 near waterfall 

Shag at least one second calendar year bird. This one was on the steps near the lighthouse. It looked at me then totally ignored me. When I have seen Shag here before, they have hauled themselves out of the sea, exhausted by a storm. But not sure about this bird. I didn't disturb it, but when I looked again later it had moved off. It or another bird was seen flying out a little later. This clip shows the location.

Either way it gave me an opportunity to look a better photographer than I actually am!

Second calendar year Shag

Immature Shag flying out of the harbour 

I hadn't planned on waiting for the ferry, but as I was about to leave I saw it on the horizon, the wind was a much better direction and stronger than I had expected, so I decided to wait. I watched it all the way in till about a mile out, then it disappeared in the middle of a heavy squall. All clear again by the time it arrived, unfortunately all clear of any interesting gulls too! Pete advises that following gulls often fly off ahead of an approaching squall. Still, mustn't grumble it was a decent walk.

A bit of a bill problem

SW wind, largely overcast with a few sunny spells.

North shore:

Howard couldn't find any new ringed Knot on the Heliport today, so had a look at Sandylands groyne (seen from the recording area)

Mediterranean gull 1 adult - the face pattern looks like the regular lamppost bird, but as Howard points out, this bird has its bill tips crossed, best seen in the last image (if you open it).

Mediterranean gull with an apparent slight problem with its bill tips
I've just had another look at my last shot of the lamppost Med, it does appear
to have this same misalignment, although I had put that down to a poor shot (MD)

Kevin Singleton was also in the same area today and took this nice in flight shot, when you know to look you can see the same misalignment of the bill tips (again you will have to open image to see it)

Skylark 1 over near the children's play area

Curlew rooting on Heliport also from Kevin

South shore - mid morning

Wigeon 300 in the channels either side of No.2 outflow, waiting to get to Red Nab. 300 is the result of a count, not an estimate.

Shelduck 15

It was too early for the Brents to arrive at Red Nab.

Rock Pipit 3 - a very agitated Red Nab bird plus the ringed lighthouse male and waterfall bird displaying.

Shag 1 juvenile flew out of the harbour 

The Walney ringed 2nd calendar year Great Black-Backed gull is still in the harbour,
but no sign of the colour ringed Herring gulls

Middleton Nature Reserve 

A short walk around mid afternoon.

Mute 8 adult plus 9 x 2nd calendar year

Greylag goose 1 - it was not going with the flow, as the Mute and Mallard headed towards someone arriving at the feeding area, it went the other way.

Mallard 16

Gadwall 37

Wigeon 2 (pair)

Shoveler 4 - 2 female plus two males, one not quite in full breeding plumage. This is it, although its plumage is also soiled by what looks to be muddy weed (not a good look!)

Tufted Duck 3 males - I like this clip, you can tell the ducks are feeding on the pond bottom, by the bubbles they release, but I wasn't expecting such a synchronised surfacing!

Moorhen 14

Coot 1

Little grebe 1 trilling

Water Rail 1 squealing

Common Snipe 2 - I was expecting more, see yesterday's comments ref spring tides

Pheasant 3 at least

Roe Deer - none seen, but fresh tracks in several locations 

Jackdaw 50 milling around when I left at 16:00.