Sniping and Knotting

Another freezing night with a sunny day. A very cold SE wind.

South Shore (MD/JP)

I checked at high water (MD). The saltmarsh was already three quarters covered. I didn't expect to see any Common Snipe, which tend to leave early towards Middleton Nature Reserve, but thought there may be a Jack Snipe or two. Didn't see any Jack Snipe, but was surprised by.....

Common Snipe 63 - most flew around looking for somewhere to land, the regular birds, tend just to head straight for the Reserve, so presumably these "additional" birds have been displaced from somewhere by the freezing conditions.

Comment Snipe

Bar-Tailed Godwit 8

Kingfisher 1 - presumably the Red Nab bird, flew across the saltmarsh towards Middleton Nature Reserve.

Reed Bunting 5

Skylark 3

Linnet 5

Rock Pipit 1 

All the above on the saltmarsh, a second Rock Pipit was on Red Nab

A walk along the sea wall to the harbour located 

Kittiwake 30 - 4 on the outflows 26 near the harbour waterfall 

I was quite pleased with my Kittiwake pictures today, but they pale in comparison to Janet's shots. All the rest of today's images are either Janet's then later Howard's. Being high resolution they really should be opened to enjoy the detail within.

First Winter Kittiwakes in the harbour 

Cormorants coming in to land - first winter bird on the right

Turnstone and a Redshank along the sea wall

North shore

Howard managed to read another eight colour ringed Knot at high water, first on the Near Naze, then on the old heliport wall. Howard's excellent pictures make this look much easier than it actually is, only a tiny percentage are colour ringed, and most of the time those that are tend to be hidden or partially hidden behind other birds/obstacles.

These shots show the profusion of Knot

None of the above are ringed, then, almost unbelievably, this happens.......

.....you wait ages for one colour ringed Knot to turn up, then two arrive!

We have had the history of two of the birds read on Thursday, one was ringed on Ainsdale Beach Merseyside, the other on Sanday in the Orkneys. These colour ringed schemes are not designed to provide entertainment for birdwatchers. They are to identify bird movements, so that hard evidence can be presented to protect habitats vital for them to continue to survive. Howard did well reading eight today, but that was largely as there was only minimal disturbance of the birds. Further checks will take place in this current phase of spring tides. The spectacle of the birds roosting on the Heliport wall is special, but you need specialist equipment to read the rings. If you go for a look please enjoy the spectacle from a distance.

Plenty of barwits

Another frosty night followed by a sunny day. Light variable breeze.

South shore - high water 09:45

I only had time for a check from saltmarsh to Red Nab (MD)

Saltmarsh 

Linnet 5

Reed Bunting 1

Lapwing c180

Some of the Lapwing, there are c100 here
You might just be able to make out a snipe in the middle of the first island 

Common Snipe 31 flushed by the rising tide

Some of the flushed snipe, heading for Middleton Nature Reserve 

Bar-Tailed Godwit 113

Bar-Tailed Godwit

Red Nab

Plenty of Shelduck and Wigeon, but the tide had almost covered all the rocks and there was no sign of any Brent geese. I assumed they had already flown to the south, and perhaps they had, but surprisingly first 27 then 3 flew in from the south.

Pale-bellied Brent goose 30 - these are the 27 flying in.

The sharp eyed amongst you may have noticed them flying past this Heron resting on a rock.

Grey Heron

It was just a few minutes after high water and some of the closer in rocks were just exposed. You can see how close cropped the Wigeon and Brent are keeping the gutweed on the rocks.

Knot 200

Dunlin 5

Rock Pipit 1

North shore

Janet spotted the  27 Pale-bellied Brent arriving out from the play area at 11:45

I had a walk out later in the afternoon towards low water (MD). I didn't see any Brent at that time.

The shore was covered in Bar-Tailed Godwits again. Very difficult to count initially as they were feeding and moving regularly to different feeding areas. But later when I was on the skear they were lined up along the shore resting, allowing a count of 710.

This clip gives an idea of the dynamics early on. It starts with mainly Knot and ends with mainly Godwits.

This is one of the feeding groups

Knot c3,000 in two flocks, but several smaller flocks were joining them as the light was fading.

Some of c300 late arriving Knot

Dunlin 25

Eider 36

Wigeon 13 (6 and 7 heading north)

Red-breasted Merganser 5

Great Crested Grebe 4 - they are already displaying 

Knot ring reading back

Another freezing night. A light, but cold and freshening NE wind with a few rain/hail showers around lunchtime.

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

Not much change in the wildfowl although the Tufted were absent again. The "no swimming" pond was ice covered this morning, but remained ice free around the edges.

There were a few small groups of Teal flying around 

South shore high water 08:45 (MD)

Lapwing c50

Grey Plover 9

Grey Plover on saltmarsh shore

Ringed Plover 5

Bar-Tailed Godwit 2

Bar-Tailed Godwits and a Redshank on saltmarsh shore

Pale-bellied Brent goose 26 rolling into Red Nab (co-starring Shelduck and Wigeon - music by Curlew).

Kingfisher 1 feeding in the groundwater runoff stream on Red Nab - you'll like this one, the Kingfisher hovers for a second before making its dive.

The fish was a Common Goby, a seawater species. They can only reach this far up the stream when the tide is high enough to at least make it brackish.

Rock Pipit 2 - Red Nab and Lighthouse 

Kittiwake 45 minimum. 8 on outflows the rest in the harbour mainly near the waterfall.

Shag 1 (3rd calendar year) resting in the harbour before flying to wooden jetty.

North shore - afternoon ebbing tide

Howard went down to check the Knot flocks for ringed birds. He did well reading three from only 500 of the 3,000 Knot.

One of the ringed Knot read today, this one was originally ringed in 2014
Full details awaited

Unfortunately, at that time a couple out for a ramble, first rambled along the rocks out from the play area, flushing 44 Pale-bellied Brent geese - these will include this morning's birds

They continued on to the skear and flushed the remaining Knot before Howard could scan them.

Knot

End of session for Howard!

I had a walk out later towards low water (MD)

The Brent hadn't returned 

Eider 26

Red-breasted Mergansers 1 male

Waders: Oystercatcher, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Knot plus 

Bar-Tailed Godwit c350, closer to the green marker post than the skear.

Dunlin 6

Dunlin 

Knot back

Freezing rain overnight made the conditions treacherous in the morning. But a warmish dry day with light NW wind cleared most of the ice off the roads.

Just my stuff so far (MD)

Middleton Nature Reserve 

The main pond is still frozen with a small patch of open water being maintained by the Mute.

The "no swimming" pond has returned to its normal maximum height.

These are Mallard in the same view as yesterday. The reeds now fully exposed.

Mallard 14 including 6 on main pond

Gadwall 24

Tufted Duck 2 male

Teal 12

Coot 1

Moorhen 2

Little grebe 1

Water Rail 2 squealing

Raven 1

Carrion Crow 6

Jackdaw 8

South shore  - a mid morning check on ebbing tide

Shelduck 87

Wigeon 200+

Red-breasted Merganser 1 female

Rock Pipit just the Red Nab bird

Kingfisher 1

Little Egret and Kingfisher, fishing in the groundwater runoff stream through Red Nab

Later, it or another, was on the sloping sea wall.

This Heron crossed No.2 outflow and was seen off by a Herring gull

Kittiwake 50 at least. There were 8 adult plus 4 first winter on the outflows/sea wall. These three adult were taking in the sun on the sloping wall next to No.1 outflow.

I managed to pass by without spooking them, when I looked back, they were
being joined by a first winter 

There were at least 50 in the harbour around the waterfall area. At one point there were 32 resting on this pipe

This pipe has traditionally been referred to as "the Kittiwake pipe" - No idea why!
It's interesting that they only use the insulated sections, I suspect it's the texture.

Adult Kittiwake in front of the lighthouse 

Heysham skear- low water 14:40

Bar-Tailed Godwit c600. 

There were two flocks this large one on the shore plus another c100 on the skear itself. These are the birds on the shore.

Very few of them were looking for food, just resting. A passing Knot flock lifted them, but they only moved a little further along the shore.

Bar-Tailed Godwit

Knot c3,000. Again there were two flocks. This is one of them.

Knot 

Eider 15

No sign of any Brent geese.

But, not quite everything is my stuff today. Janet's friend Jimmy, on Sylvan Place now has two foxes. The dog fox has apparently succeeded in attracting a mate.

Plenty of displaced Teal

A freezing night with a sunny morning, abruptly turning into a, fortunately short lived, blizzard after lunch. More snow and hail/rain showers in the afternoon. Very light variable breeze till mid afternoon when it strengthened from the NW.

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD/JP)

The main pond was iced over again, apart from a hole maintained by the Mute Swan family and Mallard. 

Plenty of Black-headed gulls on the ice but none ringed.

Janet checked later in the morning than I did, by that time the swans had
Broken a path from their hole to the feeding area

This is another area where visitors regularly leave food, not just for the wildfowl but the smaller birds too.

If you open this shot of Janet's, you can easily read the characters of this
Great Tit's ring - unfortunately, not enough of them to be able to identify it

The water level on the "no swimming" pond is dropping quickly, and was surprisingly ice free. This pond is normally the first to freeze, perhaps the greater volume of water retains more "heat". It's still about a metre higher than its normal,level, but obviously the pump is operating now and I expect it to be at its usual level by tomorrow.

This dark line, half way up the bushes is where the water was only yesterday 
The tops of the reeds are just starting to show again.

Even so the current depth is too much to allow the dabbling ducks to reach the weed. But Coots dive then dabble, or in this case, dabble then dive. You can hear male Teal calling in the background.

There were 24 Teal on this pond plus at least 10 on Tim Butler pond. A flock of 30+ flew over towards the central marsh. 64 minimum.

This male Teal was seeing off the others, the initial altercation is followed by what appears to be ritual mimicry (or, perhaps, just taking the mickey!)

Mallard 14

Gadwall 18 many just resting in the shelter of the margin bushes.

No Tufted Duck today, there were 4 males yesterday 

Little grebe 1 - this is the first record since the last freeze.

This clip, begins with Gadwall resting in the margins, past some of the Teal and ends on the Little grebe and a Mallard pair.

A second pair of Mute Swans are now on Tim Butler pond.

South shore (MD)

I exercised my daughter's dog along the sea wall at lunchtime, fortunately just getting back to my car as the blizzard started.

Cormorants lined up on the seaward end of No.2 outflow. It looks like they
are taking a sauna, but that damp air will be a lot colder than it looks.

Rock Pipit 2 - Red Nab and sea wall near wooden jetty

Kittiwake c30 - there were 20+ near the harbour waterfall plus at least 10 along the sea wall, most on No.1 outflow. This first winter, very kindly did a pirouette to display all its plumage detail.

Sandeels keep the Kittiwake around

A cold night followed by a sunny day. Light north to NE wind.

Janet's ankle must be getting stronger, she had a good walk around today.

Robin along dog walk path

Song Thrush in Nature Park

Female Bullfinch (a male had just left) in Nature Park

Little Egret on Red Nab
A lot of splashing for a small shrimp!

Curlew passing the wooden jetty 

First winter Kittiwake on No.2 outflow

Kittiwakes near the waterfall 

Kittiwake near the waterfall, the adult has a small fish
It looks to be a sandeel, more on this below

I also checked the south wall (MD). It was calm, clear, sunny and full of Kittiwake. At least 58, 30 near the waterfall 10 on No.1 outflow and 18 on No.2 outflow. 

The fish in Janet's picture looks to be a Sandeel, this young Herring Gull just flew down to the waterfall and returned with this fish, which is certainly a Sandeel.

Herring gull with a Sandeel 

Sandeels (and Whitebait which is the other possibility for the fish in Janet's picture) shoal in very large numbers and is almost certainly what is keeping the Kittiwakes on the outflows and in the harbour. With a bit of luck "more interesting" gulls could be attracted. 

Yesterday's young ringed Herring gull was on the platform again, we have received its history now - ringed as a pullus, on Walney Island 21/07/22, yesterday was its first record away from Walney.

Shag 1 immature in the harbour

Several of the Kittiwake are resting along the sea wall when not feeding.

Rock Pipit 2 along the sea wall

Kingfisher 1 on Red Nab

Wigeon 222 waiting in the channels on both sides of No.2 outflow

Shelduck 73 on the mud out from Ocean Edge foreshore 

Shelduck (and drake - front) soaking up the last of the sun's rays

Lapwing 390 flew from somewhere to settle on the shore out from the saltmarsh 

It was very nice looking up to the South Lakes today

Kittiwake hangover

 The strong overnight wind quickly eased, as did the overnight rain. After that light wind and some sunshine.

South shore

I went along the sea wall just as it was getting light (MD). It was still raining and the wind still strong, but both were quickly easing. I wanted to see what remained of yesterday evening's Kittiwake, it was a shame that the tide was out.

Kittiwake c40 - initially there were c30 in the harbour, mainly in the waterfall area, plus another 10 on the outflows and along the sea wall. But as the wind eased further they started making their way out of the harbour and some headed out, but others fed on both outflows.

These are mainly Kittiwake around the secondary waterfall, obviously it was still barely light.

There was as many around the main waterfall. 

As they were drifting out of the harbour some stopped off for a bit of a wash.....

........and brush up

Adult Kittiwake, drifting in the early morning light.
An altogether more peaceful scene than yesterday evening!

First winter Kittiwake (bottom) with Black-Headed Gull

When I was walking back there were still double figures in the harbour plus c15 on the two outflows.

Shag 1 feeding on the main waterfall 

Shag and Cormorant on the waterfall 

Pale-bellied Brent goose 3 - flew out.

Pale-bellied Brent flying past the buoy that was "missing" the other day

Rock Pipit 3 - they seemed to a territorial bird near No.1 outflow plus 2 together along the sea wall, that had gotten too close. It always amazes me how they can find food where you wouldn't expect. This is the corner of No.1 outflow. It would have been washed over (cleansed) by the wind driven waves at early morning high water. But clearly the pipit is finding something, they look like tiny marine snails.

Jean had a walk along the sea wall at lunchtime and did a thorough check of the Kittiwakes:

In total there were 26 Kittiwakes in the harbour, 5 of them 1st winters. 3 adult and 1 x 1st winter were on Heysham 1 outfall and 4 adult and 1 x 1st winter on Heysham 2 outfall. 20 Kittiwakes followed the ferry including 2 or 3 1st winters.

Jean's shot of the harbour kittiwake lined up, on the "old kittiwake" pipe near the waterfall 

208 Wigeon were near Heysham 2 outfall at low tide. 

Pete and Jean also checked the skear from Knowlys Rd:

Pale-bellied Brent goose 46 

Dark-bellied Brent goose 1

I did one more check of the south sea wall towards evening high water, only 23 Brent geese were visible on Red Nab, but some could have been behind the peripheral rocks. Kittiwake were pretty much as seen by Jean other than a further 25 that came in behind the SeaTruck.

I managed to read two more ringed gulls:

This Polish ringed Black-Headed gull was ringed as a pullus 13/06/2017
It has been seen at Heysham every winter since, but this is the first record this winter,
partly as increased dredging has reduced gull numbers roosting on the harbour platforms 

This young Herring gull is another of the NW England gull project
It took some manoeuvring to be able to see all the characters - details awaited

Finally, a first winter Kittiwake against the evening light