Meds and Meadows

Light east to SE wind, plenty of sunshine and getting quite warm in the afternoon.

Heysham skear low water 08:15 (MD)

No sign of any Brent geese, both this morning and later at Red Nad - of course, absence of evidence isn't evidence of absence.

Eider well scattered but probably about 200

Great Crested Grebe 13

Red-breasted Merganser 11

This clip is quite distant, but shows two GCG displaying and some of the mergansers feeding.

Little Egret 8

This clip is from an unusual angle, plus no indication of scale. See if you can identify the bird, before it reveals itself 

I've hidden the answer in this rambling text, just so you didn't accidentally see the identity before watching the clip. Obviously a godwit turned out to be a bar tailed one. I do like it when a bird is comfortable enough in my company to go back to sleep.

Pink-Footed goose 7 to SE

Meadow Pipit a steady overhead passage. Heard on 18 occasions but unknown numbers

Pied or White Wagtail 2 over

Red Nab to Saltmarsh towards high water

Wigeon 26

Wheatear 4

Male Wheatear, showing the white rump. The inverted black "T" not visible on this pose

Meadow Pipits coming in off - a 10 minute walk along foreshore saw 25. Altogether 42 counted

Brimstone 1 male in the Nature Park.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just a quick check of the main ponds on my way home.

Mute 1 female sitting on nest. Altogether 6 adult plus 7 immature 

Coot 3 

Moorhen 4

Little grebe 2 

Mallard 6

Gadwall 10

Chiffchaff 2 singing near the car park

Pete had a look around:

Mediterranean gull 2 x 2nd calendar year briefly on the seaward end of No.1 outflow

Chiffchaff 7 heard along Moneyclose Lane between the traffic lights and Ocean Edge

Just an aside, I sometimes receive comments that I would like to answer. Unfortunately there is no way to answer a comment unless you include an email address. Alternatively email me directly, my address is on the side bar - Malcolm

Garganey passing through and first Redpolls ringed

Almost breathless till about 10:30 when a gentle SSE breeze started. Plenty of sunshine in the morning, but more overcast after lunch.

Garganey 3 (2 males and a female) 11:00 out from Heysham on the incoming tide - thanks to the observer who provided this record via bird services.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Ringing report from Alan:

John and I set nets at Middleton this morning from about 05.45 (it was cold!). A modest catch was not unexpected but we did catch the first Lesser Redpolls of the season.

Lesser Redpoll - 6 plus 1 ringed elsewhere.

Meadow Pipit - 1

Pied Wagtail - 1

Wren - 1 retrap

Blackbird - 1

Song Thrush - 1

Chiffchaff - 2

Great Tit - 2

Bullfinch - 2

Reed Bunting - 1 retrap.

The sky was clear and the sun bright to the east (the direction the birds would be coming from) so any birds overhead were high and hard to hear. Approximately 20 Meadow Pipits showed some interest in the MP3 player and 3 Carrion Crows flew purposefully north. The only Repolls seen were those captured, plus 3 others at 06.10 hr.

Janet checked the main ponds in the morning - it was very noisy again, but today it was the wildlife making the noise:

This Greylag goose was honking constantly 

The Little Grebes were trilling 

These Coot added to the ruckus 

This pair of Teal moved on

This Sparrowhawk was on Heysham Nature Reserve earlier

Red Nab - saltmarsh area on rising tide. (MD)

Pale-bellied Brent goose 26 - again these birds drifted off from Red Nab when displaced by the tide.

Shelduck 23

Wigeon 32

Curlew c50 along incoming tide line

Grey Plover 2 as above

Rock Pipit 4

Wheatear 2 possibly 3. A mature male was seen in two locations, possibly same bird, plus this less mature looking male.

Male Wheatear not in full breeding plumage 
Probably a 2nd calendar year 

Butterflies:

Small Tortoiseshell 6

Comma 1

Spring Equinox brings 12 hours of sunshine

Light ENE to SE wind, perhaps today's title is a slight exaggeration, there was a little high cloud mid morning.

South shore towards high water (MD)

Pale-bellied Brent goose 19 - when the tide flushed them from Red Nab they just drifted out in a raft. Unlike the typical behaviour of the regular feeding birds here, who then fly off to feed at Potts - later there were 5 resting on the skear.

Wigeon 20

Shag 1 juvenile preening on the wooden jetty. This clip is just to show its typical location on the jetty, it is just about centre on this clip. Also, a good selection of cormorant plumages.

Wheatear 1 male. He obviously has his feathers fluffed out, but there was no getting away from it, he was a large individual.

A plump male Wheatear 

Pete advises that a strong NE wind across the English Channel is blocking a lot of migrating birds, with a risk of some being blown out to sea (e.g. Osprey)

Golden Plover 1 turning to summer plumage - Pete had this bird, originally as "seen from" the recording area as it rested on the Sunnyslopes groyne. It then flew into the recording area, heading towards the children's play area before heading back north. It was later relocated near the battery. Golden Plovers are very scarce in the recording area.

Golden Plover - as seen by scope from the recording area

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Kevin braved the sunny Sunday afternoon throng, despite the disturbance managed a couple of interesting records.

Chiffchaff 3 singing

Green Woodpecker 1 calling 

Heysham skear (MD)

A lovely evening stroll, but only the regular birds to enjoy

Brent geese, 2 and 3 resting on the skear 

Eider 250+

Great Crested Grebe 8

Red-breasted Merganser 8

Little Egret 5

Swan sp 1 - just as I was arriving back at the sea wall it flew overhead from SE. It called, so not a Mute, almost certainly a Whooper, but it was quite dark by then and camera was stashed away.

So, the Spring Equinox! Sunrise 06:15, Sunset 18:24. The 9 minutes discrepancy because sunrise is timed as the moment the tip of the sun appears over the horizon, whereas sunset is timed at the moment the last tip of the sun disappears. So, according to today's figures, it must take 9 minutes for the disc of the sun to cross the horizon.

More about what's gone than what's arrived.

SE fresh breeze. Sunshine all day again.

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Just a quick check of the higher ground on the western side located:

Chiffchaff 5 singing males. This clip is looking into the light so poor visually. Catches the song nicely though.

Red Nab

Pale-bellied Brent goose - just a single bird today

Shelduck 19

Wigeon 20

Dunlin 37

Rock Pipit 2

This clip shows the Dunlin, just before they moved on, but it also contains, Wigeon, the solitary Brent, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Knot (just 1) and Lesser Black-Backed gull. In the background you can hear Rock Pipits.

Shag 1 juvenile roosting on the wooden jetty - ref Pete

Saltmarsh 

Common Snipe 17

Jack Snipe 1 - this is the "best" shot I've managed of a Jack Snipe this year. Unfortunately none of the key characteristics are visible on this shot, but clearly seen as it took off.

Jack Snipe (MD)

Butterflies:

Small Tortoiseshell 2 - one at Red Nab and one on saltmarsh 

Small Tortoiseshell sunning itself on saltmarsh stones

Comma 2 along Dog Walk track - ref Janet

Comma - its proboscis is extended so presumably finding
nectar in these emerging catkins 

A bit of slow motion sniping

Almost breathless all day, what air movement there was from SSE. Sunshine all day.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Cetti's warbler 1 singing

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Brimstone 1 possibly 2 female

Both the above from Janet 

Red Nab and Saltmarsh (MD)

Pale-bellied Brent goose 36 on Red Nab

Shelduck 45

Wigeon 22 - a big reduction from recent counts

Common Snipe 12

Today's tide at 9.3m should have covered the saltmarsh and flushed everything. But the lack of wind and the high atmospheric pressure meant that it only covered 75% of it. Not only that but it came in so gently that it didn't flush the snipe at all. These two were typical:

These are the same couple on the same "island" a few minutes later.

The second bird quickly followed:

Common Snipe

I managed to get 10 snipe in this clip, all common.

This final clip just shows the location, this is at high water, so also demonstrates how much of the saltmarsh remained uncovered today. Tomorrow should be different.

Jack Snipe 1 - fortunately as I was walking off a few Common Snipe took flight spooking a Jack to fly too.

Rock Pipit 4 (2 each on saltmarsh and Red Nab)

No Robin or Reed Buntings around the saltmarsh, but this Wren graced me with its company.

Red Nab, now green oasis

The wind was quite fresh starting more or less due south then working round to SW. Mainly sunny, but an odd light shower.

Howard manage to read four ringed Knot from c2,000 birds roosting in the old heliport area at high water. These two from different ringing schemes, photographed on the Near Naze rocks.

Ringed at Ainsdale Merseyside 

A bird from a Dutch ringing scheme

Jean and Pete managed a short ringing session at Heysham, report from Pete:

Ringed

10 goldfinch (obviously moving through at moment)

4 greenfinch and a robin 

Flock 16 jackdaw plus loose flock 10 c crow north east together.  

Two Siskin heard. 

Pete also manager a short sea watch:

Shoveler 1 drake in

Red-breasted Merganser 2 out

Kevin Singleton also managed a quick visit

Knot

Magpies seldom get a mention, but they are a handsome bird
I tried, and failed, to work out what it has been eating to have its bill stained like this.

South shore (MD)

I went past Red Nab long before the tide reached it, and typically at this point in the tide it was deserted. I spotted a flock of 4 geese flying in to the bay. They turned out to be Pale-bellied Brent geese, but they appeared to be moving through, rather than just the regular local feeding movements. They were flying in, then they appear to spot Red Nab (now lush green) and turned to fly towards it. Unfortunately it took them nearly a minute so I've split the clip. This first clip shows them flying in, then veering off towards Red Nab.

I imagine patches of lush green like this along the shore indicates the presence of both food and fresh water. In this instance they only wanted a drink. They landed in the freshwater run off, began drinking, then 10 minutes later flew off again high to the north. This clip shows them landing in the freshwater run off. Unfortunately I stopped filming before they began drinking.

Pale-bellied Brent geese 62 - as I walked along the sea wall, the birds started arriving to feed on the gutweed. Three flocks 39, 4 and 19. Perhaps the 4 were the earlier birds returning. Later there were a total of 49 on and around the skear.

On the way back most were feeding on the SW corner of Red Nab, they'll be off soon, so I took the opportunity to get a good group clip.

Wigeon c130 - there were c100 waiting in the channel next to No.2 outflow. This is typical of the regular feeding birds, which wait for the tide to reach Red Nab. But, as the Brents, long before the tide reached Red Nab a small flock flew in from the south, landed in the freshwater channel and began drinking. This time, I missed the flight in, but got them drinking. I left after this, so don't know if they stayed to feed.

Rock Pipits 6 

Heysham skear low water 17:50

Brent geese 49

Eider 200+

Great Crested Grebe 8 (6 together plus a pair)

Red-breasted Merganser 3

Little Egret 3

The winter storms, coupled with a shift in direction of water flow out of the first channel has created a reef about 250m south of the normal skear edge, and a similar distance north of the green marker. It clearly wasn't fully exposed, but wave action suggest it is at least 200m long. This clip shows the location.

This area is typically just flat mud. A reef like this will only grow during the summer, and will make a significant difference to food supply here. It will concentrate detritus and the invertebrates that feed on on detritus, then fish that feed on the invertebrates. Ultimately, it must be a better area for diving birds to feed, and they don't take long to learn.

Part of the new reef exposed by this evening's 1.3m tide.
Knowlys Road in the background 

Things pretty much the same.

The wind started as a very slight SE breeze then moved around west ending a quite fresh NW. some light showers throughout the day

Middleton Nature Reserve 

This is John's report from yesterday's ringing session.

Nets set by 6.45am. Seven birds caught in the first half hour, but then only three more, before nets taken down at around 9.45am.

Birds caught were

Blackbirds x 2

Goldfinch x 2

Goldcrest x 3 (1 retrap)

Long-tailed Tit x 2 retraps

Chiffchaff x 1

South shore

Both myself, Janet and Tim had a look at different times

Pale-Bellied Brent goose 49 on Red Nab- no sign of any dark-bellied today

Shelduck 27

Eider 2 near harbour mouth

Wigeon c100

Rock Pipits 6 including the ringed male at the lighthouse 

This is one of Janet's pictures 
If you open it you can see some of the ring detail

There seems to be three birds around the lighthouse territory, I suspect one 
is last year's young bird still in association with the female (MD).
I do like this shot, you can see the rain drops falling!

Shag 1 2nd calendar year in the harbour

Nature Park:

Chiffchaff 2 singing

Siskin 2 possibly 3

Goldcrest 1

Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 male drumming before flying off

Heysham skear 

Just a quick check at low water

Brent geese similar numbers to this morning

Eider 220 around the skear, more in the distance 

Great Crested Grebe 6

Red-breasted Merganser 7

Sand Martins, plus ringing resumes.

SE wind in the morning eased during the day and shifted to SSE. High cloud with occasional sunshine.

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Access to the office is still restricted, but ringing is again a practical option. Report from Pete:

Jean set a net by the feeder next to the office for the first time for two years and it was immediately pronounced too gusty.  It became slowly but progressively more ok, so from 1205 just over 50 birds were caught: 

20 Goldfinch (one retrap) 

17 Greenfinch

7 Blue tit (two retrap)

4 Great Tit (two retrap)

3 Dunnock (one retrap)

2 long-tailed tit

2 Bullfinch.  

We would have almost doubled this catch had it not been windy to begin with with several gangs of greenfinches passing through and heading off 

Only vis from late morning arrival at HNR was:

one Sand Martin (first record this year)

up to 35 Greenfinch in addition to those ringed which seemed to be passing through having been attracted down to the feeder assemblage

Pete also managed a quick check of the north side chanel:

Sand Martin 2 together north

Eider c400

Common Scoter 1 male

Great Crested Grebe 6

Later Red-breasted Merganser 5

South shore (MD)

Pale-bellied Brent goose 49

Dark-bellied Brent goose 1 possibly 2

Both on Red Nab. I am very wary about calling dark-bellied in such strong light. The other day they all looked like dark-bellied! But I thought the two below and left of the female Eider did look like dark-bellied, so I took this clip.

Pete's had a look and is satisfied that they are both dark-bellied Brent

Shelduck 61

Wigeon c100

Eider 1 - this female has been hanging around for a couple of weeks.

Wheatear 2 males on the grass behind the foreshore 

Mature male Wheatear, looking very smart this time of year

They seemed to be finding plenty to eat, but had moved on by my return leg.

Rock Pipits 6 including the pair near the lighthouse 

Skylark 1 south

Shag 1 juvenile preening on the wooden jetty.

The wind turns, but later than forecast

The wind in the morning was just about due south, it didn't shift to the forecast SW till after lunch.

South shore 

Pale-bellied Brent geese 55 on Red Nab (Pete)

Jean checked from the round head:

I didn’t see much in 2 hours from the Roundhead today 

3 Red-throated Divers (2 in and 1 out)

3 Whooper Swans (2 floating in and 1 flying south past the end of the wooden jetty)

2 Skylarks south

3 Pied Wagtails

2prs of Rock pipits in the harbour area, including the ringed male.

Heysham skear - low water 15:50 (MD)

My walk out coincided with a heavy squall driven by a strong SW wind, visibility was effectively zero!

It eased as I reached the western limit of the exposed skear, and revealed.......nothing!

Well, almost nothing, 18 Eider. No sign of any Brent geese.

But a bit of a bonus on the way back

Whooper Swan 4. Presumably blown in by the squall, they headed out over the skear, followed the coastline and then flew over Heysham Head.

One good thing about looking back from the skear, there can be no doubting the location 

Looks like the wind is back to, the less productive, SE tomorrow 

The water must be getting slightly warmer, this is the first anemone that I have seen open this year.

First Wheatear, plus other good stuff

The SE wind continues (ends tomorrow), high cloud with some sunshine and the odd light shower.

I had very little today, fortunately Shaun and Jonathan had a good look around covering most of the recording area. Report from Shaun:

Shag juv roosting on Wooden Pier.

Whooper Swan group of c70 on sea distantly off Red Nab.

Brent Geese 47 (including CR birds) north side of Heysham Head (later 54 in skear corner (MD))

Shelduck 86 with 160 Wigeon Red Nab.

Great Spotted Woodpecker pair HNR and also heard at MNR.

Rock Pipit 2 on Red Nab and 2 around Lighthouse.

Wheatear male Ocean Edge foreshore then headed east towards MNR (first record this year)

Stonechat female MNR.

Water Rail 1 calling from Main Reedbed (Western Marsh)

Chiffchaff 3 singing HNR and 3 singing MNR near Lower Car Park. Additional group of at least 12 actively feeding (and mostly silent) along footpath and in scrub north side of the Boating Pond. 

Plus 2 Goldcrest.

Treecreeper pair at HNR entrance gate (not common here in winter/spring)

Some of the Shelduck grazing the very green Red Nab

It is interesting that Shaun and Jonathan saw the colour ringed Brents. They have not been seen since mid February, the rings that is, I'm sure the birds will have been. I had a look on the skear at low water (MD). As the tide was ebbing they were just resting, scattered around the skear. They were difficult to spot as many were actually sleeping, and looking like rocks from any distance. This clip is a typical scene, there are six sleeping birds, with just one "alert".

Somehow I managed not to disturb any, then as soon as the tide started coming in, all the dispersed birds started making there way to the skear corner. I assumed that they would be feeding in the corner on broken weed brought in by the incoming tide. But no, they all made their way up the shore to feed on the sea lettuce now emerging in the shallow pools. No idea why the incoming tide triggered this, they could have fed there earlier. This is them making their way op the shore from the skear corner.

Some of the Brent making their way to the skear corner.
If anyone is unsure regarding the "blue building on Sandylands"
where the Black Redstart has over wintered, this is it.

Also from the skear

Eider just 10 (these very low tides do not go out far)

Red-breasted Merganser 2

Waders included: Oystercatcher, Knot, Redshank, Turnstone, Curlew and Dunlin