Plenty of interest

Several showers, but sunny spells in between. A slightly fresher SW wind.

South shore

I only had time for a morning visit today (MD)

Linnet c60 on saltmarsh.

Shelduck 24 feeding quite close to the foreshore today. You can see them filtering invertebrates from the mud. It's no wonder their feeding is punctuated with regular visits to the freshwater run offs for a drink.

Wigeon c80

There was no sign of the juvenile Arctic Tern on the outflows this morning, but there wasn't one yesterday morning. Kevin Eaves saw it early afternoon.

Little Gull 5 at least. 2 adult, 1 second calendar year, at least 2 first calendar year.

Adult Little Gulls

2nd calendar year left and 1st calendar year right,  Little Gulls.
Black-Headed gull centre with wigeon behind 

Black-Tailed Godwit 23 - a distant flock flying south along the fishing lane.

Great Spotted Woodpecker - a female was calling when I got back to my car on Moneyclose Lane. Despite the traffic and rain you can still hear her calling.

Eddie Wilkinson also had a walk along the sea wall this morning, these are some of his fine pictures:

1st calendar year Little Gull

Male Wigeon

Cormorant 

Great Crested Grebe between No.1 outflow and the wooden jetty

Curlew

Redshank 

The Great Spotted Woodpecker was still showing well

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

Just the fleetest of passing checks of the two main ponds. Wildfowl as previous except.

Gadwall 5

I managed a brief clip of the Little Grebe on the main pond today.

Janet took this shot of a Grey Squirrel on the Barrows 

No.2 outflow still providing

A light west wind. Heavy showers all day with some sunny spells in between.

South shore (MD)

A couple of checks in the morning and afternoon/evening.

No pipits again seen today.

Linnet 50+ on saltmarsh 

Lapwing 45

Shelduck 18

Wigeon 178

Pink-Footed goose 295 in two large, high skeins heading south

Great Crested Grebe 1 in harbour 

Little Gull 5 - in the morning there was 1 x 2nd calendar year and 3 x 1st calendar year. In the evening they were joined by an adult.

Adult Little Gull

1st calendar year Little Gull

In the morning there were no terns, but in the evening the juvenile Arctic Tern was feeding.

The Arctic Tern looks like it was checking out the Cormorant 
In fact it was just shaking water off its head.

There was a bird preening on the sea between the outflows, thought it was going to be the Red-Throated Diver. Instead it turned out to be a solitary Wigeon, preening first, then having a bath.

The tide was almost to the sea wall, causing this Bar-Tailed Godwit to alter its feeding technique to catch small invertebrates.

These four birds were flying high towards the evening light, fortunately, both species
identifiable by their silhouette. Curlew and Bar-Tailed Godwit

Turnstone seldom visit the inner harbour, but these three were having a look around.

This Cormorant is by No.2 outflow, it makes short work of a Common Blenny. When I see a blenny being caught I always wonder, "What's changed?". Blennies are territorial and intertidal, living in rock pools or under weed or in rock crevices when the tide is out (they can breathe air if necessary). It has probably never been more than 100m from where it was caught in its lifetime, it will know every nook and cranny and will have faced the same dangers every day. But today, something changed and it was caught, no option for a second chance!

Middleton Nature Reserve (JP)

The regular main pond Grey Heron

Common Toad

Little gulls linger

A very light breeze more or less from NW. Sunny in the morning but clouds gathering after lunch and rain in the evening.

Heysham skear - low water 10:15 (MD)

Very low neap tides at the moment low water was only 3.5m, barely exposing the inner skear. But it was a lovely morning and an enjoyable walk.

Shelduck 2

Eider 8

I had hoped that there may be Brent geese this morning, but no, although there is more gutweed here now than there was a month ago (still not much though).

Great Crested Grebe 4

Red-breasted Merganser 3

Little Egret 8

Oystercatcher 600

Curlew 10

Redshank 100

Knot 400

Turnstone 30

Dunlin 9

Bar-Tailed Godwit 17 - these are two godwit coming in to join a feeding party.

These are also godwits, but the clip is really about the beauty of the waves gently rolling in. Far from the distant barking dogs.

Bar-Tailed Godwit

This is another nice clip that gives a sense of the skear in these conditions. Nothing exciting, just Dunlin, Turnstone, Oystercatcher and Bar-Tailed Godwit going about their business.

South Shore

Shaun checked this morning:

Outfalls 09:00-10:30: 

1 Sub adult Little Gull

1 adult Mediterranean Gull 

1 juvenile Artic Tern still present (No. 2). 

Wigeon just 104.

I checked late afternoon just before the rain began (MD)

Shelduck 115

Bar-Tailed Godwit 6 on the rising tideline

Number 2 outflow was still holding the main birds of interest:

Little Gull 3 - the 2nd calendar year/adult bird plus 2 x 1st calendar year. Both the young birds appear in this clip, by this time (15:45) the light was already fading quickly!

First calendar year Little Gull

Arctic Tern 1 juvenile 

Red-Throated Diver 1 - this seems to be a different bird, still obviously in moult (I've never seen such a pathetic wing flap!), it appears to have remnants of its red throat, unless it is an oil stain.

This clip begins with it swallowing a small fish, then pans out to show just how close to the sea wall it was feeding.

Red-Throated Diver

Outflow feeding patchy today

A largely dry day with just a lunchtime shower. A freshening NE wind

South shore (AH, KE, MD, JH)

I walked along the wall at low water (MD). There were just a few Black-Headed gulls feeding on the outflows. When I reached the harbour, the likely reason presented itself. The bucket dredger was operating very near the intakes for the outflows almost certainly discouraging any shoals of Whitebait. When I got back to No.2 outflow there were still only a handful of feeding gulls, but I saw Alison and Kevin arriving so waited. Good decision! Almost out of nowhere appeared.

Little Gull 2  - 1 first calendar year and what looked to be a second calendar year. This is the second calendar year/adult. It looked to have some black in its primaries, but in fact they were, at least partially, just missing feathers.

Little gull in autumn moult.
Its underwings not as strikingly dark as a typical adult.

The Little gulls left as abruptly as they arrived, but then the juvenile Arctic Tern arrived.

Kevin's shot of the juvenile Arctic Tern

By this time the tide had risen somewhat, there would have been a greater depth of water at the intakes, so perhaps more fish. Even so there were still a lot fewer other gulls than of late.

In the afternoon Josh Hedley checked the outflows and saw both the Little gulls and the juvenile Arctic Tern

Also this morning:

Wigeon 130 in the channels beside the outflows.

Little gull in the foreground with some of the Wigeon in the channel beyond.

Bar-Tailed Godwit 5 feeding on the beach between No.1 outflow and the wooden jetty.

Kevin's shot of one of the Godwits 

No pipits were seen, heard or reported today

Also from Josh this afternoon:

Shelduck 108

Chiffchaff 1 along the dog walk track

Terns and Dragonflies......remember, remember.....it is November!

A fresh NW wind. Sunshine for most of the day.

South shore on the morning rising tide (MD)

Shelduck 126 feeding on the mud.

Wigeon 108 waiting in the channels by the outflows.

Eider 1 male out from the harbour entrance 

Arctic Tern 1 juvenile plus Common Tern 1 juvenile feeding on No.2 outflow.

Mediterranean gull 1 adult at the seaward end of No.1 outflow before flying off south.

Bar-Tailed Godwit 2 were feeding on the beach between the wooden jetty and No.1 outflow. The tide was rising up the channel beside them, but the tide doesn't just rise up against the mud, it rises through it too, effectively fluidising the mud. Makes for easy pickings!

This one runs from the higher, drier mud to the lower fluidised mud, you can see the mud colour change as it reaches it. It then has to run again to wash its Lugworm before its mate pinches it.

At this point the mud is so soft the Godwits can easily push their head right through it.

Rock Pipit 1 on foreshore 

Linnet c50 on saltmarsh 

Harlequin Ladybird a "swarm" was sunning themselves along the wooden fence at the entrance to Ocean Edge. At this time of year they gather together, looking for suitable hibernation locations. There were two or three of the two main variations on every post for about 100m at least 30 Ladybirds.

Harlequin Ladybirds 

Middleton Nature Reserve - afternoon (MD/JP)

Mute Swan pair plus 8 large cygnets 

Gadwall 3 on the "no swimming" pond plus Janet saw 7 fly over.

Mallard 27 - the "tame" 12 on the main pond and a very flighty flock of 15 on the "no swimming" pond.

These are the "no swimming" pond birds. It must have been me that spooked them, but I was being as careful as I always am here, and I don't normally spook the ducks (the normally more flighty Gadwall remained)

Coot 12

Moorhen 6

Little Grebe 1 in winter plumage on the main pond, but very elusive 

Grey Heron 1 regular bird resting on the slope above the main pond

Cetti's warbler 1 singing at the "no swimming" pond

Sparrowhawk by Janet

Common Darter 2 - an old female and this male.

Male Common Darter resting on a late autumn fallen leaf

Roe Deer 1 female

Terns still here, plus a Little glimpse

The wind was quite fresh and moved from the east to WNW over the cause of the day. One mid morning shower, then rain pretty much all afternoon.

South shore (MD)

I managed a morning walk before the shower started.

Linnet 100+ on the saltmarsh, the spring tides have stripped all the currently available seeds off the marsh plants. They were feeding on those seeds deposited on the tideline or dropping on the brambles like a plague of locusts!

Rock Pipit 2 along the sea wall

Meadow Pipit 2 on Ocean Edge grass

Arctic Tern 1 juvenile and Common Tern 1 juvenile on or around No.2 outflow - this is the Common Tern, but the Arctic makes a brief appearance towards the end (although you have to be quick to spot it).

This is also the Common tern, taking a break to preen its feathers.

A quick check in the afternoon confirmed that both Terns were still feeding on No.2 outflow.

Little Gull 1 adult - only seen once making its way along the seaward end of No.2 outflow.

Whooper Swan 4 flying towards the Lune estuary 

Wigeon 50 - this short clip is actually from yesterday, but it shows their resourcefulness as they climb half way up the sloping wall to feed on the gutweed there.

But the Wigeon were not the only birds to be scaling the sloping wall. The Great Black-Backed gull with the broken wing was on top of the sea wall as I walked out. I had resolved not to feed it as it would only prolong the "inevitable", but I couldn't resist it today. I had some soft dog treats in my pocket "full of protein and vitamins", if you believe the packaging. I left them on the wall and carefully walked past the gull. It immediately went over to investigate the treats, tasted them and discarded them! Gulls are not noted for being fussy eaters, my assumption that it must be starving was clearly incorrect.

On my way back it had climbed down the wall and was patrolling the rocks next to No.2 outflow.
Later still in the afternoon it was wandering between the caravans on Ocean Edge. Plenty of easy
pickings and treats there. So, it looks like its fate depends on the risk of predation rather than starvation.
At least a threat of a swift end, rather than an agonising one.

Long-Tailed Tits - at least 11 in the Nature Park close to Red Nab

Little gulls join the terns and November dragonflies!

A strange day weather wise. Heavy overnight showers then heavy rain again from late morning till mid afternoon. Before and after the midday rain it was really quite pleasant and sunny. The initially light east wind freshened throughout the day and shifted to the south.

Common Darter 4 at least. Janet saw at least three on Middleton Nature Reserve plus this one I saw in the Nature Park.

Female Common Darter, catching the November sun

Also on Middleton Nature Reserve. 

Common Snipe 2

Pheasant 1

South shore (MD)

For once my timing was impeccable, a morning and late afternoon walk managed to miss the rain, and quite a lot to be seen.

This morning:

Shelduck 30

Wigeon 46

Rock Pipit 4

Meadow Pipit 2

Long-Tailed Tit - a mobile flock had reached the end of the Nature Park and ended up on Red Nab before doubling back. 7 seen heading back but probably missed some.

One of seven Long-Tailed Tits briefly in the "bush" near the steel bollards at Red Nab

Blue Tit 4 - 2 also on Red Nab, possibly arrived with the Long-Tailed Tits, 2 more flew east along the sea wall

This is slightly unusual, Robins don't normally tolerate Dunnocks (or anything else for that matter!)
But this was just after the morning rain had ended and the Dunnock looked particularly sodden

Arctic Tern 1 juvenile and Common Tern 1 juvenile on No.2 outflow (although the Arctic wasn't there on the way out)

Juvenile Common tern having a rest on the outflow railing

For comparison, this is David Kaye's shot of the resting juvenile Arctic tern
Taken on Sunday

The freshening SE wind meant that they could fly more slowly against it, making them easier to follow. This is the Arctic.

In the afternoon the heavy and prolonged squall had brought in

Little gulls 4 - one adult plus 3 first calendar year feeding on No.2 outflow.  Both Terns were still there although, this time the Common Tern wasn't there on the way out.

This clip begins with the juvenile Arctic Tern but quickly switches to following two of the 1st calendar year Little gulls.

This is the adult Little Gull

First calendar year Little Gull

Adult Little Gull

Great Crested Grebe 1 feeding in the harbour

Terns (and Whimbrel) still around.

Heavy overnight rain and another shower at lunchtime. Overcast all day. A light east breeze.

First an update from yesterday

Wheatear 1 late bird moved rapidly through the old heliport at midday- Mark Breaks.

South shore

I went out in the morning just as the heavy overnight rain was easing (MD)

Back to "normal" with Rock Pipits,  just 4 seen (foreshore 1, Red Nab 1 and 2 together on the sea wall)

This is one of the sea wall birds.

Meadow Pipits 10 grounded on Ocean Edge grass. This is one with a Pied Wagtail, they are finding plenty to eat as the invertebrates have climbed up the grass blades to avoid the waterlogged ground.

Reed Bunting 2 on saltmarsh 

Shelduck 1

Wigeon 53

Whimbrel 1 calling from Red Nab

Both the juvenile Common Tern and juvenile Arctic Tern were feeding on No.2 outflow, but as yesterday, the Arctic not always present.

Later in the afternoon Janet was exercising a dog along the sea wall. No specialist camera today, just a mobile phone camera. 

This is Janet's shot of the juvenile Arctic Tern.
It shows that excellent record shots can be taken with just a phone camera.

This is also Janet's. It shows the extent of the Oystercatcher movement, presumably something or someone had flushed them from the Heliport roost.

It rained down rocks!

A prolonged and heavy shower late morning eased just after lunch. A few later lighter showers. A light east breeze.

First these shots from Howard yesterday at the old heliport:

I made another visit today hoping to get lucky with the Knot, alas there were fewer birds c1500 which stayed in the middle of the outer wall with only one quick fly round due to a corvid dropping over the wall and spooking them.

There was a male Kestrel flying low over the field which flushed 11 Snipe, and c40 Greenfinch,

that is a greenfinch with the Kestrel

A more recognisable shot of a Greenfinch

7 meadow pipit feeding around the naze and onto the lorry park

at the cafe end someone had put some seed down on the path for the birds
(House Sparrows)

.........and Rat with offspring.

One of three Pied Wagtail, this one with a metal ring was just beyond reading range.

South shore

I couldn't get out till lunchtime today (MD). At this point it was pouring down and had been for over an hour. It was high water so I started at the saltmarsh 

Common Snipe 8

Jack Snipe 1

Linnet 55

Reed Bunting 2

Wigeon 37

Rock Pipit - there was just 1 on the saltmarsh, but another 9 along the foreshore (2 looked to be the residents at the slipway end chasing off 3 others, while a Robin was desperately trying to see off 3 more further along, plus a single bird at the Red Nab end). Other single birds on Red Nab, Sea wall and lighthouse in the regular residents areas. So a total today of 14!

Ringed Plover 8 

Greenfinch 2

On Red Nab

As I reached the outflows the rain was easing. 

Common Tern 1 juvenile and Arctic Tern 1 juvenile were flying high and patrolling the sea wall between the outflows.

The Common Tern was constantly calling, you can just about hear it in this clip. Watch in slow motion and you can see its bill opening as it calls.

On the way back the tide had ebbed further and both terns were feeding around No.2 outflow. This is the (silent) Arctic.

Juvenile Arctic Tern

Juvenile Common Tern

When Pete had a quick look from Ocean Edge at 15:00 there was just the Common Tern feeding, but the Arctic may well have been resting on the wall (see yesterday's post)

Cormorant 54 on the wooden jetty

Great Crested Grebe 1 feeding by the water intakes in the harbour again.

This, justifiably, sad looking Great Black-Backed gull was also in the harbour.
Unfortunately its flying days are over.

Grey Seal 1 between the outflows

In the Nature Park

Goldcrest 2 

Chiffchaff 1 calling near the white barrier at the entrance. There is nothing to see in this clip, I'm not pointing my camera at a wooden post so much, as pointing the camera microphone towards the calls. Mostly Chiffchaff calls.