Outmanoeuvred by the Ibis.........again!

Overcast and reasonably mild. A light NE breeze.

South shore - high water 11:00 (MD)

Pale Bellied Brent geese 17 - these flew to Red Nab in a line directly from Walney, not from the north shore.

Pale-bellied Brent geese dropping down on to Red Nab having flown from the west side of the bay

Today's high water was 9.2m. This would normally flush the Brent from Red Nab, but the flat sea and very high atmospheric pressure meant that it didn't reach as high as it would do normally. The gutweed is now very short and there was no one around (I don't count), so the Brent took advantage to feed closer inshore at high water. This clip shows the ideal feeding conditions for them, the gutweed is short but floats when covered in water, making for easier grazing.

This clip shows just how short the gutweed is, and how close the Brent were to the sea wall.

Shelduck 60

Wigeon 200

The tide only just reached the saltmarsh edge.

Common Snipe 28 and 21 of those were flushed from the marsh grass that now runs more or less as far as Potts Corner.

Reed Bunting 1

Linnet 1 

Rock Pipit 1

Grey seal at least 1. One was seen some distance out, highlighted by a group of gulls waiting for it to surface. Then later, it or another (looks like a male) was feeding in No.1 outflow.

North shore

Alan Physick checked the north sea wall

Rock,Pipit 1

Grey Wagtail 1

Peregrine Falcon 1

Howard did well and managed to read 11 colour ringed Knot. These are examples from three different schemes

Glossy Ibis - initially feeding just outside the recording area around the horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall. Shaun watched it till it flew off (also 13 Redwing feeding in the field). It was later tonight, almost 16:30 and quite dark. It took a line that would have taken it right over my (MD) head if I had been on the hill on Middleton Nature Reserve, and towards the harbour if it continued. But myself and Alan Physick were stationed in the Business Park on the other side of the road. If it doubled back at all it didn't get that far. Possibly it chooses different roosts in different weather conditions, it was definitely much milder this evening. The game is still afoot!

Jackdaws, Jack Snipe and Ibis

Again, very cold but not freezing overnight. A dry cloudy day and slightly warmer. A light north breeze.

Howard took this lovely shot of a Lapwing on the Near Naze, earlier in the week.

South Shore - high water 10:10 (MD)

Pale-bellied Brent goose 10 on Red Nab

Shelduck and Wigeon similar to yesterday.

No sign of the yellow ringed Cormorant on the wooden jetty, but this immature Shag was showing well on the first section of the Jetty.

A Grey Heron was also on the jetty.

Rock Pipit 2 (sea wall and lighthouse)

Imperial Rd (MD)

I went in the field to the west to see if I could locate the Ibis roost from the high ground next to the recycling centre this evening.

Jackdaws were constantly passing overhead to join the roost near Middleton Village (more on these later). No Stock Doves passed over so wherever the roosting birds are arriving from it isn't this direction.

Buzzard 1

Meadow Pipit 1

Jack Snipe 1 - flushed from the low lying waterlogged field.

Glossy Ibis 1 - 16:18 it had left the feeding area near the horse paddock and started off west, it did cross into the southern section of Middleton Nature Reserve before doubling back and flying into the Business Park. Unfortunately I could only glimpse it skimming over the trees, so couldn't see where it ended up (reinforcements tomorrow so we may do better)

Interestingly, it lifted all the Jackdaws from their roost. A Heron had flown a similar path a few minutes earlier without bothering the Jackdaws. 

There were over 300 Jackdaw, I took this clip by just roughly pointing the camera at them while I scanned the horizon to see if the Ibis would reemerge.

Roe Deer 2 female, the smaller one probably immature.

Just out of the recording area - Middleton Parish Hall (MD)

The Glossy Ibis was feeding in the field next to the horse paddock behind the hall this evening. The standing water is still frozen, but there is enough thawed around the edges for the Ibis to wash its worms. It was having no difficulty in catching them, it caught 4 in just over a minute. I've had to condense the first clip slightly to make the file small enough to upload. You can hear the Jackdaw roost already gathering.

How many does it eat in a day!

Plenty of interest today

Another cold, but not freezing night (1.8°C) followed by a dry and often sunny day, but the temperature remained cold (5.1°C peak mid afternoon).

South shore

I checked from Red Nab to the shore out from the saltmarsh at high water and early in the ebb (MD)

Pale-bellied Brent Geese 8 on Red Nab

Shelduck 120 out from Red Nab and the saltmarsh 

Wigeon 150 around Red Nab

This is a nice panoramic clip of Red Nab, it begins with some of the Shelduck and ends on some of the Brent

Although it hasn't dropped below freezing for the last two days it hasn't been warm enough to thaw what was frozen earlier in the week. This includes the mud out from the saltmarsh. Today's high water did thaw where it reached and the waders were taking advantage of the invertebrates that again became accessible as the tide ebbed.

This is the view looking out from the foreshore. The shiny mud at the water's edge is where today's tide
reached, the darker mud beyond is still frozen. You can see the waders feeding in the ribbon of thawed mud.

I was particularly careful today about not getting too close and spoking the waders. They had been through a cold night, but now there was some warmth in the sun and the tide had freed up breakfast. These are the same waders in the above shot, but this clip is from the east of them with the sun behind me.

StenaLine heading out

Totals of the waders I could see easily:

Curlew 60

Oystercatcher 25

Bar-Tailed Godwit 180

Lapwing 63 (also feeding on the ribbon of thawed mud)

Knot 1,000

Redshank 30

Turnstone 10

Dunlin 200

Ringed Plover 14

These are some of the Ringed Plover with Dunlin in the channel just beyond the saltmarsh 

This is looking back from the saltmarsh as I was leaving. All the waders were still feeding,
and the area of newly thawed mud much larger.

Reed Bunting 

Janet checked from Red Nab then along the sea wall.

Turnstone 

Little Egret having a bad hair day

Male Wigeon

Cormorant on the wooden jetty with a yellow ring.
Pete advises that it is a Sinensis or hybrid.
Unfortunately only 2 of the 3 characters showing - one to watch out for!

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

I went down this evening to watch the birds heading to roost from the top of the hill on the southern section of the reserve.

Wood Pigeon 20+ came in to roost, most quite early on. They were preferring the conifers.

Six Wood Pigeon in the late afternoon sun

Stock Dove 23 at least. Some larger groups this evening , including one of five and one of ten.

10 Stock Doves plus Starlings

Jackdaw 280+ - there was a small roost of 32 on the reserve, but the large one was just to the east, at least 250 in this clip.

Glossy Ibis 1 - I had checked the horse paddock at Middleton before positioning myself on the hill. There was no sign of it then, but it must have been feeding somewhere close by, as its flight line was as previous. It was heading low along the line of Middleton Rd then turned and headed east, in a line that would take it to the Business Park to the east of the reserve.

Just out of the recording area. No Ibis seen in the horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall, but this Grey Wagtail was finding plenty to eat.

Consistently cold!

Surprisingly not freezing overnight, but it was cold. Temperature dropped to 1.8°C overnight and "peaked" at 4.1°C at lunchtime. Mainly overcast with a bitterly cold NE - E strong breeze.

South shore (JP)

Some shots by Janet from yesterday 

Little Egret

Some of the Redshank feeding on the receding tide

Cormorants leaving the wooden jetty roost for their feeding grounds

Lots of stuff other than the tits are attracted to the feeding area near the white barrier in the Nature Park.

Robin

Dunnock 

Chaffinch

Male Great Spotted Woodpecker 

Grey Squirrel 

Heysham skear - low water 15:25 (MD)

Brent Geese 16 at least - viewed distantly as they fed amongst the rocks out from the play area. Yesterday Pete Woodruff saw 45 in the same area. But both views too distant to be certain that they were all pale-bellied.

Eider c30

Red-breasted Merganser 3

Little Egret 1

The tides are starting to go out further now and areas not exposed for several days become frantic feeding grounds for the waders. These are typical, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Redshank and Knot. Watch out for the Curlew with a crab.

Oystercatcher, Knot, Dunlin and Turnstone

Oystercatcher 1,000

Curlew 100

Knot 1,000

Redshank 80

Turnstone 60

Dunlin 4

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

I went in the evening to watch the Stock Doves come in to roost.

These are the trees/scrub where they have chosen to roost.
Just north of the Reedmace covered pond in the southern section of the reserve

Stock Dove 16 minimum, probably 19 (19 seen landing, but 3 possibly already counted). No large flock today 3 was the largest single group.

Although I was much closer today (there is a nice seat to rest on by the pond), I was below the birds and the diminishing light was behind them, making for difficult photography.

Stock Dove

Wood Pigeon 6 also came in to roost in the same trees

Jackdaw 80+ milling around to the east of the reserve 

Jay 1

Just out of the recording area - Middleton Parish Hall

Glossy Ibis 1 has been seen both yesterday and today, despite the standing water in the field beside the horse paddock being frozen.

I couldn't find it this evening (MD). Perhaps it had already left for its roost or was just out of sight somewhere, I didn't linger.

Nice day, but uneventful

A heavy overnight frost, areas of shaded ground remained frozen all day. Sunny for most of the day with a very light NE breeze.

Middleton Nature Reserve (JP)

Some shots from Janet from yesterday.

The Coot have been battling all (last) year

One of two Roe Deer 

South shore (MD)

It was a lovely morning for a walk, unfortunately very little to be seen along the sea wall.

Shelduck 77

Some of the Shelduck

Wigeon 300+

Eider 2 beyond the outflows

And that was about it!

Lesser Black-Baked gull posing nicely 

It wasn't practical to check for the Ibis roost this evening, perhaps tomorrow 

North shore 

Howard took this clip earlier in the week. It demonstrates how the Knot are easily disturbed on the Heliport wall. In this instance by a couple of Carrion Crows. Also flushed by the disturbance was a Jack Snipe, you can just see it zipping past the second crow.

Plenty out to sea, and plenty to see inland.

An overnight frost followed by a nice sunny day with a very light NE breeze.

South shore (SC)

Red-throated Diver 2

Common Scoter 6

Eider 78 

The above viewable from Heysham Harbour lighthouse (13:45-15:00).

Wigeon 424 around outfalls.

Heysham skear (MD) - low water 12:40

Pale-bellied Brent goose 23 some trying to feed the others just milling around the skear - later a largish flock was seen near the play area.

Pale- bellied Brent goose finding scraps of weed in this pool

Eider would be Same birds as Shaun's above.

Wigeon 5

Common Scoter at least 3 but, again probably some of the above. They were on the south side which made  seeing difficult with the low sun.

Female/immature Common Scoter with an Eider 

Red-breasted Merganser 3

Great Crested grebe 4

Waders:

Oystercatcher c500

Curlew 20

Knot c1,000

Redshank 20

Turnstone 60

This is one of the Knot clearly finding plenty to eat. Not certain what the larger morsel is.

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

Stock Dove 19 at least came in to roost in the same patch of trees. Three lots of two and this large flock of 13.

Stock Doves - another roost that requires further investigation 

Glossy Ibis 1 - Shaun and Alan Physick positioned themselves to best track the Ibis after it left the horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall (the Green Sandpiper was also present again today). They managed to watch it as far as the junction between Carr Lane and Middleton Rd, then they lost it as it banked towards the trees to the north.

I received my signal call from Shaun at it set off and just managed a couple of shots confirming that, on this occasion, it headed towards the trees. 

Glossy Ibis banking north, plenty of trees and an industrial site that way.

We have another cunning plan. Let's hope the Ibis hangs around long enough for it, and the next one, to be implemented.

At least we managed a "seen from" Ibis.

Calm at times, some variable light breezes. Just one heavy morning shower.

North shore (MD)

An afternoon check from the promenade couldn't locate any Brent Geese.

Imperial Rd (MD)

Buzzard 2 - a dark bird and this light one flying to the trees from the bypass

Buzzard

Redwing 11

Redwing and a Greenfinch

Neither Cetti's heard today.

This female Roe Deer hadn't noticed me.

Then she spots me. You can see her smelling the air, I can't have smelt threatening, as she continued feeding.

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

A check just before dusk.

Mute, Coot, Moorhen and Mallard unchanged.

Gadwall 10

Little Grebe 1 on the "no swimming" pond - this pond is 2m above its normal level again, the pumping system isn't working as effectively as it normally does.

Redwing 1

Stock Dove 2

The reason for the late visit was that myself and Shaun were trying to see where the Glossy Ibis headed to roost. Shaun watched from behind Middleton Parish Hall and rang me when it set off. It was later this evening, 16:17, and its departure coincided with a lot of Carrion Crow activity, which may have modified its behaviour. It left on the north side of the Hall today and was quickly out of sight to Shaun.

I was on the hill on the southern section of Middleton Nature Reserve and obviously within the recording area. I was confident that I would be able to watch its flight line, but all I saw was it lifting then dropping back down again out of sight. It either landed close to where it had been feeding or continued very low.

This is the view I had of Middleton Village from the hill. This shot was taken earlier
before the light faded. The Ibis showed just behind the tall building in the middle.

The arrow points from where I was stood to the tall building in the picture above.
You can see that it is directly in line with the Village Hall to the right.
(That's the main pond top left, and you can just see the edge of the "no swimming" pond, left of that.

So my view must have been when it gained height to clear the buildings next to the Hall. At least this elevates the 2024 status from "just outside the recording area" to "seen from the recording area" (earlier sightings of it within the recording area were in 2023)

Afterwards we checked any likely roosting sights close to the Hall, and tried to establish better vantage points in the Village. We will be trying again, when time, and the bird, allows.

Where's the Ibis roosting?

A dry day after a wet start. The light SW wind continues.

Nature Park(JP)

Janet put a few peanut chips on a some of the posts near the white barrier, and soon attracted the birds.

Blackbird and Coal Tit

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Imperial Rd (MD)

Cetti's warbler 2 - one singing near the pond by the roundabout and another by the pond near the recycling centre.

Raven 1

Buzzard 1

Kestrel 1 male

Male Kestrel, very rufous around his face and throat,
 presumably stained by his last meal.

South sea wall (MD)

Pale-bellied Brent goose 49 (45+4) arrived from the north side and settled on Red Nab. 

Pink-Footed goose 1 on the sea

Wigeon 340

Wigeon drifting in along the channel next to No.2 outflow

Shag 1 immature flew out of the harbour when the Manxman left, unfortunately on the far side of the ferry so I couldn't see where it headed.

Bar-Tailed Godwit 14 flew south from the north side

Some of the Godwit

Glossy Ibis several observers saw it in the horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall. But Shaun checked in the evening to see which way it moved off to roost. There were 10 Little Egret also feeding there then. At 16:07 the Ibis flew off to the west, and was last seen heading towards Middleton Nature Reserve. Shaun couldn't quite follow it all the way in to the recording area air space, but it almost certainly did. Shaun checked the harbour and it hadn't reached that far, so somewhere in between? We shall endeavour to find out.