The Three Rs

A similar day to yesterday, with a SW wind and some heavy showers and occasional sunshine 

Just my stuff again so far (MD)

South Shore mid morning at the end of a heavy shower

When I was at school we were "taught" the Three Rs - Reading (w)Riting and (a)Rithmetic - not a lot of help to a lad who wasn't great at spelling to begin with!

I was reminded of it today as I checked the saltmarsh, only three passerines seen - Reed Bunting, Robin and (w)Ren

Chaffinch 1 female/immature along the foreshore, presumably grounded as I can't recall seeing one here before

Greenfinch 3 on Red Nab

Rock Pipit 1 on Red Nab

Wigeon 41

This Dunnock was also on Red Nab, looking a bit nervous as it was sandwiched between a Robin and a Rock Pipit, both on territory 

Imperial Rd 

Just a brief stop off in passing

Little Egret 5

Grey Heron 1

Sparrowhawk 1

Kestrel 1

Roe Deer 2 - looks to be a female with her fawn. The scrub they are heading for is the boundary to the Bypass. I doubt they would cross when the traffic is so busy but they must do at some point.

Roe Deer c20m from Heysham Bypass 

Just out of the recording area

Curlew 190 resting in the field on the left of Oxcliffe Rd as you reach the 40mph section after the railway bridge. Presumably flushed from their regular high water roost by the spring tide. I just started to film them when they took flight. I'd like to blame the noisy traffic, but it was more likely to be the funny looking guy pointing a camera at them!

Half of them continued west, but the other half circled round and landed again.

Just a few bits......and they were hard won!

A fresh south wind, the day fluctuating rapidly between blue skies and showers.

Janet sent this shot of House Sparrows in the hedges at the northern end of Moneyclose Lane. They are quite localised in this area.

House Sparrows

The only other stuff I have is what I managed (MD). I was busy today, every time I was doing something else the sun came out. But as soon as I ventured out, the skies darkened and the rain fell. The forecast today was for "light" showers. The only thing light about them was that you could do with a light to see through the gloom!

South shore

Just a look around Ocean Edge at high water to see if the current downpour had grounded anything 

Greenfinch 3 at Red Nab were the only finches 

Rock Pipits 2 on Red Nab plus 1 on saltmarsh 

Reed Bunting 2 on saltmarsh 

Wigeon 75 feeding on what little vegetation was still showing on the saltmarsh 

Common Snipe 2

Jack Snipe 1

The rain had stopped by the time I reached the Nature Park (the sun was out by the time I got back to my car!)

Chiffchaff 1 calling near small anemometer 

Goldcrest 1 feeding near small anemometer 

Female Goldcrest 

Heysham Head 

I exercised my daughter's dog after lunch, just in time for another soaking. At least we had the whole Head to ourselves.

Great Crested Grebe 1 feeding out from the Head 

Rock Pipits at least 3, probably 5

Meadow Pipits 3 grounded by the shower

Meadow Pipit

Hopefully more tomorrow 

A bit less of interest, but at least the mutes are back up to strength

A lightish SSE wind with steady rain till late morning, it remained overcast with a few more light showers.

South Shore (MD)

I checked the saltmarsh starting at the stage of the rising tide when I left it yesterday. It poured down the whole time!

Greenfinch 2 along the foreshore were the only finches

Song Thrush 1 grounded near slipway 

Wigeon 146 feeding over the flooding saltmarsh, but most headed towards Potts Corner as the tide covered the vegetation 

Common Snipe 3

Jack Snipe 2 - one or two may have left earlier, but I suspect 2 - 3 is the total current population on saltmarsh.

A check along the wall in the afternoon was at least dry, unfortunately of birds too. The only thing of note were

Shelduck 27 having a drink in the pool created by the freshwater run off from Red Nab.

Shelduck out from Red Nab on the ebbing tide

Carrion Crow flying along the sea wall

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

The good news is that the Mute family was back to the two adult and six large cygnets. Also their behaviour has changed, two of the cygnets had taken to just hanging around the seat at the feeding station, presumably these included the one that died. But today all were in the middle of the main pond eating weed

Mallard 9

Gadwall 13 (just 5 females)

I was watching their eye rolling behaviour. It seemed that the established pairs didn't bother. But the unattached birds were regularly signaling to each other this way.

This Moorhen seems supercharged as it zooms past what I took to be the already paired three females - not an eye roll in sight!

The other two females were in the middle of the pond, surrounded by eye rollers

Coot 1

Little grebe 1

A bit more of interest

A light SSE wind with Sunny spells and showers

 South shore - high water 09:45 (MD)

I went down to watch the tide cover the saltmarsh.

Kingfisher 1 on Red Nab, it came out from the freshwater culvert in the sloping wall, but then went to fish in the small pool closest to the wall (near the stainless steel bollards). You can tell we are back to spring tides, last night's tide will have "restocked" this pool.

Rock Pipit 2 - one on Red Nab and one on saltmarsh 

Reed Bunting 5 at least on/around saltmarsh 

Common Snipe 38

Jack Snipe 1 (a heavy shower started just after I saw this, so I left for home before the saltmarsh was fully covered)

Lapwing 10

Wigeon 120 - they were feeding on the flooding saltmarsh, there was quite a lot of bickering going on and so very noisy. I took this clip mainly to capture their calls, but the wind made it difficult. Even so you can hear some of the whistling from the males.

Imperial Rd (MD)

I just called in passing there were

Little Egret 7

Grey Heron 1

Magpie 4

All feeding in a small area of recently churned up or partially slurried field, just to the east of the road.

Most of them are in this clip

This clip is just a Little Egret preening with a Mallard in the background. Both birds can be seen to look in the same direction when a potential threat is perceived.

Pete managed a quick afternoon check:

Shag 1 waterfall area late pm

Also single Black-Tailed Godwit on tideline near conger rock.  

No geese or water birds of note 

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

I'm tempted to say a late evening check, but it was only 16:00!

Mute pair, with again only 5 cygnets seen

Mallard 5 (3 males) main pond 2 males "no swimming" pond

Moorhen 4 main pond, 2 "no swimming" pond

The "no swimming pond was busy!

Little grebe 1 - not sure what's going on here. It surfaced with this dark round thing (snail?) in its bill

Little grebe with unknown item in its bill

It didn't discard it but dived again and didn't resurface in view. They do this when they are taking something large to eat in the margins out of sight. But it may have dropped whatever it was under the water and continued fishing. 

Shoveler 1 female

Teal 5 (3 male)

Teal, the male now out of eclipse 

Gadwall 22 - most were sat quietly on the water near the edges. But there was one female in the middle with a couple of "interested" males. I have to say she seemed a bit of a flirt! This is what has to be called "making eyes at one another".

Mind you the males were no better, I saw one "making eyes" at the female Shoveler, she wasn't impressed!

Nothing dropped by!

A fresh south wind all day. The early morning rain stopped for a few hours before resuming at lunchtime. No sunshine today.

Just my stuff so far, and really just an account of the regular birds to be seen at the moment (MD)

South shore - a check from saltmarsh to Red Nab mid morning.

Lapwing 52

Shelduck 3

Wigeon 61 - most on Red Nab

Mainly male Wigeon landing at Red Nab

Little Egret 3

There were no feeding finches on/around saltmarsh and no Rock Pipits seen.

Oystercatcher and Curlew foraging in front of foreshore 

These Turnstone were also foraging in front of the foreshore.

Heysham skear - a short check in the afternoon rain

Red-breasted Merganser 6

Great Crested Grebe 3

Eider 2 

Little Egret 8

The only waders were: Oystercatcher, Curlew, Redshank and Turnstone 

I took this shot of a barrel jellyfish earlier in the week (saving it for a rainy day!). It shows its eight short tentacles more clearly than previous shots, I've always thought of them as the snakes on Medusa's head. This one is about the size of a football.

Barrel Jellyfish 

On the way back I checked the rocks in front of the children's play area to see if there is much gut weed available. It's a bit patchy but there are some areas along the middle distance rocks where it is quite lush.

Pockets of gutweed out from the children's play area.
Should be enough to hold any Brent that venture over from the east side of the bay.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just a quick check of the two main ponds.

Mute 2 adult, but I could only locate 5 cygnets 

Mallard 3

Gadwall 19

Moorhen 4

Coot 1

Brent drop by

A light early east wind switched to the west and strengthened mid morning. High cloud with some sunny spells and a few short showers.

Report from Pete:

Whooper Swan 7 - Really high flock SSW over sea - probably crossed Lake District and staying same height 

Mediterranean gull 2 adult on Red nab one with metal on right leg.  

About 750 Knot possibly more obscured on Red nab

3 Reed bunting Red nab shore then SSE

Report from Jean:

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Vis

Woodpigeon 100 south

Rook 1 south

Carrion Crow 45 south in dribs and drabs

Chaffinch 7 south

Small finch sp, possibly Goldfinch or Linnet, 20 west in a loose flock

Lesser Redpoll 5

Reed Bunting 2

Species of note present:

Snipe 1

Water Rail 3

Siskin 3 feeding in alders

Goldcrest 3

Bullfinch 3

Grey Wagtail 2 (including the recently ringed one)

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Model Boat Pond

Mute Swan 2 ad and 5 imms (a 6th immature seen wandering near the road)

Little Grebe 1

Moorhen 5

Coot 1

Also from Middleton, ringing report from John:

Cold start this morning at Middleton, with heavy ground frost and temperature close to freezing when I arrived.

Only nineteen birds caught which comprised;

Lesser Redpoll         x4

Goldcrest                 x4

Cettis Warbler       x3  (2 new)

Wren                       x3

Chiffchaff                x1 

Chaffinch                x1 

Blackbird                x1 

Great Tit                 x1

Blue Tit                  x1   

Heysham skear - low water 15:00 (MD)

Great Crested Grebe 2

Red-breasted Merganser 4

Eider 2

Pale-bellied Brent goose 5 - The weather and tide were both typical for birds coming over to feed from the east side, so I was half expecting them. But these arrived during a series of showers around the bay. They just fed for about 10 minutes and must have flown off while I was looking elsewhere, so more likely to be off passage than visitors.

The first Brent Geese this winter - by this time the sun was shining again

For travelling companions, they weren't particularly companionable!

You can see in the above clip, that there isn't a lot of gutweed around, but even so there are plenty of easy picking for early arrivals. I was really surprised when they left so quickly.

Low winter sun, is pleasant, but it can be a nuisance!

The strong overnight winds had eased before sunrise leaving light, mainly southerly wind all day. High cloud resulting in plenty of sunshine.

South shore (MD)

An early check.

Lapwing 110 out from saltmarsh 

Shelduck just 10

Wigeon 94 Red Nab to No.2 outflow

Eider 1 out from harbour 

Skylark 4 SE but very low suggesting that they had been grounded on the foreshore 

Reed Bunting 4 - originally grounded, 1 stayed near slipway, but 3 headed off SE

By this time the sun was out and both bright and low. Fine walking out, but very difficult seeing walking back. There was a Chiffchaff briefly on the newt pond, but was flushed by a Song Thrush and Blackbird, and "disappeared". Shame as it's grey appearance suggested it may have been a Siberian Chiffchaff, unfortunately it was silent.

Grey Wagtail the ringed bird from yesterday was still around. I was pleased I saw the ring colours yesterday as I would have struggled today, looking into the sun. It was the same bird though, it is easier checking colour of rings when you know what they are likely to be. This clip gives a flavour of this morning's visibility problems, but also shows that it seems to be finding plenty to eat.

Jay 2 (one of 5 corvid species seen today - more later). In this clip this one has two peanuts (visitors leave them on the fence posts). It was going to burry them both here, but a magpie turned up, so it removes one to edge its bets. Again, the colour of this clip is affected by the bright background light (I really must learn how to use a camera!).

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

Just a passing check of the two main ponds

Mute Swan - as yesterday 

Gadwall 1 male was the only duck!

Little grebe 2 (one each pond)

Grey Heron 1

Cetti's warbler 1 not singing, more like a sub song at "no swimming" pond

Common Darter 1 male - again avoiding being photographed 

Imperial way (MD)

Just the briefest of passing checks.

Raven 2 - they came from the north circled to gain height then continued SW

Raven 

There were Carrion Crows and Jackdaws feeding , making up the 5 corvids species seen today

I returned to the Nature park in the afternoon to see if I could relocate the "grey Chiffchaff ". But no luck. This "normal" Chiffchaff was below the small anemometer 

 Chiffchaff - collybita

Unlike this morning's bird, this one was particularly vocal

Red Admiral 1 sunning itself in Kevin's garden

Another probable Pallid

A cold south wind early on freshened during the day to be very strong by mid afternoon. The rain largely held off till after lunch, then pretty steady till evening.

Swift (sp). Seen by John Gregory it had been over the horse paddocks at Knowlys Rd at lunchtime, last seen heading east. Some good views suggested a Pallid Swift, but no pictures so, unfortunately, it has to remain just a probable.

South shore (MD)

I checked from saltmarsh to Red Nab mid morning, it felt like visiting the Mary Celeste! Only the Shelduck (100+) were around. There were no passerines of any description, don't know if the cold wind or a raptor had purged them.

Red Nab was deserted except for a single Little Egret.

Three Common Snipe baulked the trend flying onto the saltmarsh.

Fortunately a couple of Grey Wagtails were a nice diversion.

Feeding below the small anemometer in the Nature Park. One was part of the Observatory colour ringing scheme (see side bar for scheme details). Ringed 6/09/21 at Middleton Nature Reserve.

Colour ringed Grey Wagtail 

It looks like a male. This clip shows it catching a rat-tailed maggot. You can actually see what's going on better, if you watch the reflection.

This is his travelling companion 

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

Just a quick check to see how the Mute were faring. They were fine, but the cygnets were spilt into two groups 4 with the 2 adult on the "no swimming" pond, 2 hanging around the feeding station on the main pond.

No Mallard seen

Gadwall 18 on "no swimming" pond

Shoveler 2 on "no swimming" pond

Male Shoveler now out of eclipse 

Female Shoveler 

He didn't seem overly keen on company and legged it when she got "too" close.

Little Grebe - just 1 seen

November Darters

SW wind drifting to south by evening. Some heavy showers, particularly in the morning. Quite cool out of the sun.

South Shore

The worst of the morning rain was easing off when I checked mid morning (MD)

Linnet 130 feeding on saltmarsh 

Greenfinch + Goldfinch mixed flock c50 feeding around the saltmarsh edges

Greenfinch 12 along foreshore plus 2 on Red Nab

Rock Pipits 3

Shelduck 100 feeding out from foreshore 

Wigeon 20 in saltmarsh creek (low water)

Peregrine 1 flying around the Power Stations

Mediterranean Gull 1 adult resting on mud next to No.2 outflow

I didn't manage any decent shots today, fortunately Janet checked in the afternoon when the sun was shining and took these shots.

Wigeon 

Redshank 

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

I was busy today, but the sun was shining as I was heading home in the afternoon, so I called in to check the main pond, hoping to get a picture of a November Common Darter. Two males flew past me when I first arrived, then the clouds covered the sun and no more were seen.

Common Snipe 1

Unfortunately one of the mute cygnets has died. Its body was on the peninsula showing no sign of trauma, other than some post mortem scavenging. The other six cygnets plus the two adults seemed to be in good health. Hopefully it is just a one off. The Reserve officer has been informed.

Pallids to the left, Pallids to the right......doodly-squat in the middle!

SE light winds all day. Largely overcast, but at least it stayed dry.

Today's title refers to Pallid Swifts being seen both north and south of Heysham this afternoon. Pilling (3 sightings) and Heversham (1 posible) - information from Pete, who advises that the "once in a lifetime show is likely to be over", but there is an outside chance of one on the lee side of Heysham Head tomorrow, e.g. viewing from main carpark in Heysham Village.

Meanwhile, there was nothing of note seen/reported in the recording area, so far.

Heysham skear - low water 09:30 (MD)

Just a very quick check, the mix pretty much as yesterday including the Shag resting on a mussel bank.

2nd calendar year Shag 

No Eider or Knot seen.

South shore - high water 15:15 (MD)

Shelduck 41 out from saltmarsh 

Shelduck out from the saltmarsh 

Lapwing 25

Wigeon 28 feeding on the saltmarsh edge plus 31 at Red Nab 

Mallard 1 male feeding on the saltmarsh Samphire seeds - Mallard seldom merit a clip, but it was nice to see this one feeding naturally (still it only gets 14 seconds of fame though!)

Linnet 120, but very flighty. There was a Kestrel feeding over the far corner, but doubt it was that. There are so many, they must be attracting other raptors. These are some of them being very reluctant to land.

Curlew flying past the foreshore 

Rock Pipit 2 around saltmarsh, but none on Red Nab.

There were 12+ Pied Wagtail feeding on Red Nab, more than normal for this time of day, the Rock Pipits don't take kindly to them.

No sign of any Mediterranean gulls.