More good seabirds and Meadow Pipit passage

A fresh SSE wind to begin with, switching to SW by lunchtime. A heavy shower at 08:00 after that mainly dry with sunny periods.

Pete and Jean checked the south side this morning:

Black terns 4 - three juveniles left outfalls and flew out down the shipping channel then another darker bird of uncertain age at that range appeared and was still present when we left

Little Gull 1 adult on the outfalls

Arctic Tern 1 juvenile 

Common Tern c8

Mediterranean gull - 3 Juvenile and at least 8 other assorted age.  

Guillemot in harbour

Swallow at least 20 south 

Meadow Pipit over 500 south over sands and red nab 0900-1020

In the afternoon myself (MD) and Alan Physick checked the sea wall. There were at least 4 juvenile Black Terns feeding on both outflows. The light was still difficult, but with more birds around, spotting them was easier, but they fly so quickly and erratically they are hard to track. I couldn't manage a clip of more than a few seconds, so put a few together to give a sense of their movement.

Juvenile Black Terns

The afternoon light is difficult, especially when the sun is out behind the birds. I was fooled into thinking this Tern was also a Black Tern

But it turned out to be a juvenile Common Tern

It tried to rest on the sea with the Black-Headed gulls, but it wasn't welcomed!

On the way back down the wall Alan saw a Skua fly low in front of him before lifting all the gulls from Red Nab. It then flew out to sea and was lost in the sun. Seemed to be a dark morph Arctic Skua, but just possibly a juvenile of another skua species.

Rock Pipit 3

Wheatear 2

Heysham skear - low water 10:00 (MD)

The heavy shower had moved on from Heysham over an hour before I started, but the west side of the bay was clearly still getting wet.

Double rainbow, framing the skear

Pink-Footed goose 198 SE in 4 skeins, 171 in three skeins all arriving at 10:15

Eider 35

Red-breasted Merganser 8

Great Crested Grebe 1

Little Egret 17

As I was walking out on the skear there was a trickle of Meadow Pipits coming in and flying east. 11 in the first 15 minutes. Then they stopped, but by that time I was towards the south side of the skear. They resumed again in earnest when I got back to the north side. The flight line seemed to be SE till they hit the skear then due east taking them ashore near Rydal Rd. 72 in total including 2 groups of 17 and 18.

Janet took these shots from Heysham Head

Kestrel 

Herring Gull with what appears to be a Common Blenny 

Black Tern best of four tern species

The strong wind eased during the day, it started from the south but veered to the SW by mid morning. Heavy rain for most of the morning but a dry and sometimes sunny afternoon.

I had a walk along the sea wall in the morning (MD). Very little to see, largely as the tide was out and nothing much was feeding on the outflows (low water means the water at the intakes is shallow and less likely to hold large shoals of fish).

Mediterranean gulls 11 adult and 2nd calendar year feeding on the beach next to the wooden jetty (at least 12 around today as a 1st calendar year was seen in the afternoon).

Wheatear 2 

Rock Pipit 3

In the afternoon we had a three pronged strategy, with Jean scoping from the churchyard at Heysham Head, Pete scoping from Ocean Edge and me walking along the sea wall.

Report from Jean:

Gannet 3 adult - 2 out and 1 in distantly.

Manx Shearwater 1 out quite close in

Sandwich Tern 1 out

Little Gull 1 juvenile south

From Pete:

Mediterranean gull 1 1cy along the sea wall

Arctic Tern juvenile on the seaward side of No.1 outflow, then later it or another flew south with 

Common Tern 5, other Common Terns were still close in along the wall, there were at least 7 so 12 minimum number.

Black Tern 1 juvenile came in to No.2 outflow and stayed briefly. This was just before 14:00, an hour before high water.

Fortunately, I was just getting back to No.2 outflow then (MD). Looking out to the sea from the wall it was very difficult to track, it was flying very quickly over a large range. Not only that, but the strong light was behind it and its upper wings were more or less the same colour as the sea. No chance of a clip, I resorted to following it with my eyes and pointing my camera in roughly the right direction. I was quite pleased when I managed some half decent shots. They are heavily cropped, but only because in the original pictures they were right on the edge or corner of the frame.

Juvenile Black Tern

Sandwich Tern 1 briefly, probably Jean's bird passing through, as David Kaye also saw one fly south past the north wall.

The other terns were easier to photograph, mainly as they tended to feed from a limited area allowing the luxury of positioning myself at an angle away from the light. Even so the action was frantic. This short clip begins on the Sandwich Tern but there are also at least 5 Common Terns (watch in slow motion).

This clip also begins with the Sandwich Tern, then switches to a Common. Also in the clip, the 1st calendar year and a 2nd calendar year Mediterranean gull.

The gulls and terns weren't the only seabirds taking advantage of the Whitebait bonanza. No idea if
this is the same Guillemot as yesterday, but I'm sure that some nice easy fishing was very welcome.

Pink-Footed Goose 36 south 13:20

Black Tern best of three tern species

A very strong and gusty SW wind. Some heavy showers made viewing difficult.

Report from Pete - Seen from Stone Jetty heading towards Heysham mid range.

Artic Tern 1 juvenile and just 1/4 mile behind

Black Tern 1 juvenile 

23 Mediterranean gull on red nab early doors with mass departure of 13 close together towards lune and the rest in dribs and drabs leaving only 2-3 when the tide started covering the rocks 

South shore (MD)

12:00 - 13:30

This first walk was almost the opposite to yesterday. It was reasonably dry as I walked out but the heavens opened as I reached No.1 outflow. The rain, coupled with the sea spray made visibility terrible!

Mediterranean gull 2 - a 2nd calendar year flew across the harbour mouth and an adult followed the ferry in. This is the 2cy, by this time I was out of the rain, sheltering behind the lighthouse.

Kittiwake 4 - 3 x 1st calendar year plus 1 x 2nd calendar year 

There were at least two terns on No.1 outflow, one adult Common and a juvenile, but the weather was so difficult it wasn't possible to tell if it was an Arctic or a Common. Not only was there rain and sea spray, the squall also had increased wind strength making keeping balance almost impossible. This clip is really just to show the conditions although there are glimpses of the adult Common Tern.

By the time I got back to Red Nab the rain had eased, but the wind still viscous! This adult Common Tern was having a bath. Sorry about the jerky camerawork, but it does reflect the day.

After its bath it had a preen then braced itself against the wind on the Red Nab rocks

Guillemot 1 - battling against the waves in front of the foreshore rocks

Eventually it managed to reach a safer distance from the rocks

Wheatear 2

Rock Pipit 3

It had been wild indeed, I hadn't seen another soul, only a fool would venture along the wall in those conditions.......so I went back again in the early evening 16:00 - 17:00. The rain wasn't so bad this time and visibility was much better, but it was still windy.

Arctic Tern 1 juvenile on No.1 outflow. Probably the one seen by Pete this morning heading in this direction, and almost certainly the same juvenile I'd seen here earlier.

Juvenile Arctic Tern

Common Tern 3 at least - 2 adult and a 2nd calendar year

2nd calendar year Common Tern

All the birds were regularly "catching" fish (picking them out of the water is a more realistic term). So there are still plenty of easy pickings on the outflows. This is the 2cy Common with a fish.

Pete says that the Black Terns used to routinely feed on the outflows and hang around a while. There is no reason why they shouldn't at the moment, perhaps tomorrow........

First calendar year Common Gull

Two species "return" to Red Nab

A strong and freshening SW wind. Heavy showers in the morning.

South Shore

I had a walk along the foreshore and sea wall mid morning, and mid shower (MD). Got a soaking on the way out and a blow-dry on the way back!

Mediterranean gulls 4 at least, there were two adults and a 1st calendar year feeding on the outflows and a 2nd calendar year on the beach by the wooden jetty.

This is the 2cy with a Bar-Tailed Godwit. The rain had just stopped at this point, but the light was still awful!

This is the 1cy on No.2 outflow

Kingfisher 1 flew out from the culvert in the sea wall at Red Nab and flew east. This is typical of the bird(s) that over wintered last year, but it is a bit early. It will be interesting to see if it hangs around.

Grey Seal 1 near No.1 outflow

Ringed Plover 6 and Dunlin 2 resting on the grass at Ocean Edge during the shower

Rock Pipits 3

Linnet 25 (saltmarsh)

Goldfinch 12 (foreshore and Red Nab)

Wheatear 20+ they were becoming active as I walked back, and when Janet checked later most had moved on.

Pictures from Janet:

One of the few remaining Wheatears

Adult Mediterranean Gull

Ringed Plover and Turnstone 

Oystercatcher, 1 leucistic bird with a white head (looks like a Puffin!)

Little Egret

Cormorant, also having a blow-dry

First Wigeon to return this autumn 

In the doldrums!

A very light east breeze accompanied by even lighter rain in the first half of the morning. Then just overcast.

Heysham Skear - low water 08:00 (MD)

East winds have the least affect on the sea on this side of the bay. Such a light one had no discernible affect and the sea was flat calm.

Great Crested Grebe 13

Red-breasted Merganser 6 - all female/immature 

Eider 21 - mainly female/immature 

Some of the Eider

Four of the mergansers 

Red-breasted Merganser

Pink-Footed goose 85 south in two skeins, both at 09:25

Little Egret 10

Not so many waders today but the outer skear was exposed and many would be feeding there.

Oystercatcher 200

Curlew 100

Redshank 50

Turnstone 100

Knot 300

The tide was so flat it was creeping in around these Knot. One picks up a small mussel, but I think it discards it again. They didn't decide to fly till prompted by passing Oystercatchers.

Back to spring tides now and they come in very quickly, concentrating the shrimps and small fish and causing a brief feeding frenzy. This is a flavour of the activity, although the egret seem to have finished feeding.

Carrion Crow, there is always a presence on the skear, about 10 today. But more interesting were a high group of 9 that flew in over the skear and continued east.

Nothing different today

A cold NE light wind. Dry with plenty of sunshine.

South shore

Pete managed a quick check early on

Mediterranean gull 11 in a quick sweep. No rings seen.

34 ringed plover, 5 Dunlin inshore off OE saltmarsh

Janet had a walk along the wall

Red Admiral 2 in off the sea at Red Nab.

Loads of gulls feeding on both outflows again.

Goldfinch 20+ on Red Nab.

This Robin on Red Nab was not in the least bothered that I was quite near.

A nice sequence of a Little Egret fishing.

Then fighting over fishing rights!

Young Herring Gull having a foam bath

Rabbit, hopping it!

Comma in the Nature Park. Also Red Admiral and Common Darters

I walked the shore between the saltmarsh and Potts for a couple of hours but couldn't relocate yesterday's white rumped wader (MD). The closest I got was this mixed group of waders resting in a drain close to where yesterday's bird flew from. The Larger Grey Plover were easily seen but a number of the smaller waders remained hidden.

Unfortunately, before I could get a closer look another small group of Grey Plover, Knot and Dunlin flew to join them, but just managed to spook them all into leaving!

Flying birds, left to right. Grey Plover, Knot and Dunlin

I say, unfortunately, but there was nothing lost, I managed a quick check of the birds as they flew off, the only white rumps were the Grey Plover 20. The others were just Knot and Dunlin.

Grey Plover with Blackpool Tower in the distance 

There were three other inshore feeding groups of Ringed Plover within the recording area. 66 birds in total, but nothing more than Dunlin with them.

Bar-Tailed Godwit 1

Lapwing 16 on the saltmarsh 

Shelduck 124

Some of the Shelduck 

Swallow 1 north into the wind

Along the foreshore 

Wheatear 11 + 2 along the sea wall - ref David Kaye

Again some of the Wheatear were the larger birds

Meadow Pipit 2 grounded

Rock Pipit 2

Robin 1

The one that got away......for now at least

Very light variable breeze. Some light showers.

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Report from Jean:

Nothing migrating overhead at Heysham NR this morning but 

8 Chiffchaffs, 

8 Coal Tits, 

3 Goldcrests 

and another Sedge Warbler creeping through the bushes.

South Shore

Pete had a look early on 

Mediterranean gulls 11

Ringed Plover 12 inshore

I had a walk along the sea wall then out onto the shore beyond the saltmarsh (MD)

Wheatear 1 on Red Nab 2 near the lighthouse. The foreshore wasn't checked in the morning but there were 14 in the afternoon so at least 17 for the day

Rock Pipits 6 - 1 near the waterfall and 2 along the sea wall. 3 on the foreshore in the afternoon.

Peregrine Falcon 1 flew into Power Station grounds

I checked the meds on Red Nab but couldn't see any ringed birds. There was a blue ringed Black-Headed gull, but it was the same one I read yesterday and originally saw on the 14/07/23.

Black-Headed gull ringed at Martin Mere 6/07/20

The walk on the shore didn't find much, but probably missed plenty! A smallish brown wader took flight from the cover of a water channel and headed south towards Potts Corner. Only seen from behind, it had a white rump, long looking wings giving it a leisurely looking flight. It continued south till out of sight. Its call ruled out Wood Sandpiper. A second thorough check of the shore late afternoon failed to relocate it. Will try again tomorrow.

These 23 Shelduck were heading north this afternoon 

Turnstone 

Dunlin resting in a channel similar to where this morning's wader took flight from

Swallow 37 eventually headed south all between 15:45 and 16:00. At that time there was no wind, and they didn't seem to know which way to go.

The foreshore was full of life, there were Goldfinch 16 and Linnet 25 eating seeds.

The sun had come out briefly and the insects were rising and the Pied Wagtails (5), Wheatear (14) and  Rock Pipits (3) were also rising to catch them. I tried to get a clip of this Pied Wagtail catching flies, but ended up with the Linnet eating the Unscented Mayweed seeds, although you just get a glimpse of the wagtail flying up to catch a fly.

Quite a stocky Wheatear

The Rock Pipits weren't happy with all the activity on their patch.

Also along the foreshore, Robin 2, Wren 2 and Dunnock 1

Dunnock

Just out of the recording area - Middleton marsh

Pete had gone down to scan for the missing wader. No joy, but did see

Osprey 1 resting on a log on Middleton marsh

Gulls still feasting, but not so much variety today

Some overnight rain then dry with plenty of sunshine. A light west wind drifted to NW

South Shore

Pete checked again:

Interesting that well before the tide there were just 20 Mediterranean Gulls around Heysham outfalls area (63 yesterday) but there were at least 41 roosting on the sandbank between Lades marsh and Basil Point - no distance in direct flight from Heysham. Surely the same pool of birds - shame ring reading so difficult on lune estuary

Dunlin - close in flock of 120 

I checked along the seawall and the saltmarsh area today (MD). But first......

This looks like a bleak Scottish loch, complete with its own monster. I'll reveal the location later.

These are the gulls, mainly Black-Headed feeding on No.2 outflow. There are high numbers feeding but even more resting on the rails and the shore either side of the outflow. The clip pans to No.1 outflow with the wooden jetty behind.

There were eight species of wader on Red Nab

Oystercatcher, Redshank, Turnstone and Curlew in high numbers, but not so many of the rest:

Bar-Tailed Godwit 1

Knot 4

Ringed Plover 12

Dunlin 2

These are the Dunlin with some of the Ringed Plover

This is a flock of c100 Turnstone coming in to rest by No.2 outflow. There was a solitary Knot with them (I think the 2 Redshank were already there).

This Turnstone on the foreshore has a small crab, but not for long (you can't have your crab and eat it!)

Wheatear 28, they were all along the sea wall and 15 along the foreshore 

Rock Pipit 2

Meadow Pipit 1 grounded on foreshore 

Meadow Pipit

Linnet 35 on saltmarsh 

Linnet 

Robin 6 along foreshore and saltmarsh. Two at least already on winter territory and were frantically chasing off the Wheatears.

Pied Wagtail 5 at least 3 of which seemed to be moving through

Swallow 1 south

Pink-Footed goose 124 south in 3 skeins

This is the "tree" in the loch picture earlier. Just a small plant growing in a crevice on the sea wall,
with a rainwater puddle behind it. No idea what the monster was! But it shows how angles can be deceptive. (MD)

There are still Grey Herons roaming around. Janet saw one being chased out into the bay by another Heron at Half Moon Bay

The gullfest continues and big Red Admiral movement

The light east wind in the morning had drifted to the south in the afternoon. Plenty of sunshine.

South shore

Report from Pete:

Osprey 1 fishing 0815-20

Gullfest still Heysham outfalls and area - far more than usual

Little Gull at least one juvenile but lost after Osprey flush, 

Mediterranean gull at least 63 with at least 28 2cy and four 1cy 

Sandwich Tern 1

Pink-Footed goose 190 south 0810-0846 then 50 later

Swallow only 10

Sand Martin 1 late bird

Red Admiral 157 south from 0850 including 50 in 15 minutes (0945-1000)

Jean was at Heysham Nature Reserve. 

Pink-Footed goose 500 additional 

Sedge Warbler 1

I was busy and couldn't get down till the tide was full (MD). So no chance of checking the shore for Whitebait (see yesterday's post). But there obviously hadn't been a repeat performance. The gulls were feeding on the outflows when Pete checked, the shore and any available fish were still exposed then.

Wheatear 9 plus 1 at the lighthouse in the afternoon.

Rock Pipit 1

Red Admiral 29 south in 45 minutes, most were what just fluttered past. But every time I looked through my binoculars at something there was almost always one in the field of view.

A second check along the sea wall in the afternoon saw butterflies come in off at the lighthouse at the rate of one a minute. Mainly Red Admirals but a few Small Tortoiseshell too.

Chiffchaff 1 in the scrub near the lighthouse 

Pink-Footed goose 108 south in two skeins at 15:40 - so 848 total today.

Linnet 7 feeding along the sea wall in the afternoon and 6 on the foreshore and saltmarsh in the morning.

This is one of the morning birds eating the seeds off one of the many foreshore Sunflowers, which were finally killed off by the saltwater in the last set of spring tides. Nice to know they managed to set seed though.

These are some of the Linnet along the sea wall, finding plenty of seeds amongst the sparse vegetation.

Alison and Kevin saw at least 6 Wheatear along the foreshore in the afternoon, almost certainly additional to the 4 there this morning as they were quickly moving through then.

Painted Lady on the small beach between Red Nab and the foreshore 

Middleton Nature Reserve (JP)

Quite a few Butterflies and lots of Common darter coupled up, I think there was a Black Darter on the boggy track at the main pond but lost sight of it.

Common Darters

Comma

Red Admiral