Better

It rained for most of the morning, but not as heavily as yesterday. Showers in the afternoon. A light south wind.

Pete managed a short lunchtime seawatch:

Two Red throated diver together flying out but distant 

single Sand Martin  - first of the year

6 Meadow pipit flying in over sea

Shag 1 on wooden jetty

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Siskin 1 - Jean

South shore (MD, JP)

I had a quick walk along the foreshore early morning (Malcolm)

Black Redstart - the "missing" female type from yesterday was showing well along the foreshore despite the rain. 

It was still showing well later in the morning when Janet checked,
and was still there, but drier, when I checked again towards high water

Meadow Pipit 26 grounded on Ocean Edge grass

Rock Pipit 2 - one on Red Nab and this one on the foreshore 

Sparrowhawk 1 flushed all the Meadow Pipits

When Janet checked later a male Stonechat had arrived

It was still there when I returned just after lunch, at least the rain had stopped by this time.

Pale-bellied Brent goose 30 feeding on Red Nab before flying south when displaced by the tide. Although all the rocks are green with gutweed it is very short and they have to work hard for very meagre reward.

Wigeon 200

Weasel 1 scurried across the car parking area at the Nature Park.

A quick 17:00  check by Angela Gillon failed to locate the Black Redstart, but a Reed Bunting was grounded on the foreshore rocks.

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

We now have an unprecedented 5 Goosander on the "no swimming" pond. Another male had joined them today.

Male Goosanders

 I have yet to see one dive. I take that to mean that there are plenty of suitably sized fish (I only know of Perch in this pond) and they can catch one easily whenever they are hungry. It must be why they are here. (Malcolm)

Imperial Rd (MD)

I checked first thing and there wasn't a single gull feeding on the harrowed field (see yesterday's post)

Buzzard 1

Jackdaw 15

Just out of the recording area - horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall

Glossy Ibis still feeding

Today was a no Starter

It pretty much rained all day today. A south to SW wind.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Still 4 Goosander on the "no swimming" pond. 

Cetti's warbler 1 singing

South shore

Today's title refers to the absence of any known sightings of the Black Redstart.

I had a walk along the sea wall late morning on the rising tide (Malcolm)

Pale-bellied Brent goose - just 4 arrived at Red Nab. 

Wigeon 320

Shelduck 2

Shag 1 adult resting on the wooden jetty.

There were no gulls at all feeding on the outflows - more on this later.

Redshank 60

Rock Pipit 3

It was lashing down when I reached the roundhead so I sheltered behind the lighthouse a while. It wasn't possible to see the buoys out from the north wall, partly because of the rain reducing visibility, but mainly because the fast running incoming spring tide had reduced the amount of buoy showing. As the rain eased slightly what remained of the buoys came into view.

Both buoys had only their tips showing. I hadn't expected to see the southern (left) one at all as it had been
completely submerged on much less forceful tides. Whatever was tangled to its chain must have been freed.

Today's tide at 10.4m really rips through. This is the northern buoy, which is normally barely effected by the tide

Imperial Rd

I had a quick look early this  morning (Malcolm). But the farmer was harrowing the pastures just east of the road. Nothing about then, but I thought the effect of harrowing might attract something later, so I went back this afternoon.

The fields were absolutely packed with Gulls, no wonder the outflows were deserted.

These are just a fraction of the gulls, there were also thousands of Starlings

I had just started going through the gulls to see if there was anything different, when suddenly everything went up!

One of three startling flocks

I couldn't see what had spooked them, a reaction like this comes from a perceived threat. Not typically what you would expect here from a Buzzard passing over.

But eventually that's all I could find, but it was two Buzzards (presumably the residents) chasing off a third. So the ensuing turmoil might have been what triggered the gulls to panic.

Three Common Buzzards

It was getting late and the gulls didn't return, but I would imagine that the fields will attract gulls again tomorrow. 

Just out of the recording area - horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall

Glossy Ibis feeding in the field next to the paddock

Pretty much the same.......just wetter!

It rained, quite heavily at times, till just before lunch, then the SE wind switched to SW and it remained dry.

Unfortunately, I only had time for a morning walk today and managed a good soaking (Malcolm)

South Shore

Black Redstart - the female type was half way along Ocean Edge foreshore. Fortunately it was still around when Janet checked in the afternoon. These are some of her shots.

Pale-bellied Brent goose 23 - flew from the north side to Red Nab before being moved on by the high spring tide.

Wigeon 250 many taking advantage of the high tide to access gutweed on some of the close in rocks.

Shag 1 probably the adult on the wooden jetty 

Rock Pipit 3

The other day I showed how the cormorants disable large Bass they catch by breaking their gill filaments. This both starves them of oxygen and causes severe blood loss. Today's sequence shows that better (fortunately this was beside No.2 outflow, providing shelter from the rain).

The Cormorant drags its hooked bill tip through the gills. At this point
the Bass is still active and the Cormorant is at risk of being stabbed by the 
Bass' needle sharp dorsal fin spines. You can see them in this shot

This clip is less than a minute later and the Cormorant senses no resistance from the Bass. It dives one last time.

When it resurfaces it swallows the Bass. It takes a little longer than the other day as this Bass is slightly larger, plus there is still some slight movement from the Bass. Even so, it doesn't take long.

I would be interested to know how long a meal this size will sate a Cormorant (Malcolm)

Just I was heading back to my car through the Nature Park, the rain stopped! Two Goldcrest were flitting through the trees. This is a rubbish clip of one of them, but there is precious little else today. It does show how active they are through the trees, it only stopped briefly for a post rain preen. Unfortunately not long enough for me to get it in focus.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Goosander 4 - 1 male. On "no swimming" pond

Just out of the recording area - horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall

Glossy Ibis feeding in the field next to the horse paddock. It was by itself this morning, but yesterday it had two feeding companions 

Ibis, Shelduck and Redshank 

Day five........

A dry largely overcast day. A light variable breeze first from the east then later from the west.

South Shore

Black Redstart 1 female type was more elusive today and was seen at both the slipway and Red Nab ends of Ocean Edge foreshore. Today's shots by Janet.

Shag 1 adult resting on the wooden jetty at high water. This shot by Kevin Eaves

Pale-bellied Brent goose 2 - today's spring tide had already covered Red Nab as I passed (Malcolm). Any Brent feeding here earlier would have flown south. These two came from the north side, looked at where Red Nab "should be" then continued south.

Wigeon 100 - mainly at the saltmarsh

Eider 1 female

Alba Wagtail 4 north

Rock Pipit 6 including these two on the saltmarsh 

Imperial Rd (MD)

Buzzard 2 drifted off to SE together 

Wood Pigeon 40

Some of the Wood Pigeon resting in the treetops 

Meadow Pipit 5

Greylag Goose 10 just beyond the hedgerow. One made a halfhearted effort at an alarm call, but the others saw no reason to be alarmed.

Greylag goose

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

Goosander just 2 females this evening 

Tufted Duck 3

Little grebe 1

Cetti's warbler 2 - 1 singing by both ponds 

Goldcrest 1

Out of focus, but recognisable Goldcrest

Just out of the recording area - horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall

Glossy Ibis feeding this evening at least.

Plenty of Frogspawn at Heysham Moss Nature Reserve 

Black Redstart still the star

It was dark and threatened rain all day, but we got away with just a few spots. A light east wind.

South Shore

Pale-bellied Brent goose c43 flew from Red Nab to Potts Corner on the rising tide.

Woodcock 1 flushed from dog walking track

Black Redstart - the female type was showing well today along the section of the foreshore rocks nearest to Red Nab. The mealworms were all gone and it was feeding under the concrete slabs. Not visible when feeding but it was very active and soon revealed itself. Seen by many observers today at least until 13:20.

These are some of my shots (Malcolm)

Most of the time it was very flighty, but I managed the following clip as a group of dog walkers were approaching. It was more interested in keeping an eye on them that it was about me. I've removed the sounds of their conversation and dogs barking, but you can see the Redstarts  reaction to it.

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD, JP, JR)

Still 4 Goosander

Two of three Tufted Duck

There always seems to be at least two Long-Tailed Tits on the car park feeders

Cetti's Warbler 1 singing by "no Swimming" pond

Male Roe Deer, there was also a female close by

Black Redstart continues to entertain

Another dry overcast day with a light ENE wind.

North shore

Pete checked the sea but nothing moving.

Stonechat pair on gorse on the north side of the harbour

South Shore:

Black Redstart 1 female type. Still on Ocean Edge foreshore, initially quite mobile, but became more sedentary after a visiting bird photographer left it some mealworms (c150m along from the gate). Several observers saw it, at least till 13:30.

These shots by Edward Wilkinson ( not the mealworm provider)

Female type Black Redstart 

These fine shots of a Cormorant on Red Nab also from Edward

Rock Pipits 5

A "crest" flitting along the sea wall before being lost into the Power Station, was only seen from behind, but probably just  a Goldcrest (Malcolm)

Pale-bellied Brent goose 39 - there were 4 having a drink and a bath in the freshwater runoff at Red Nab, very early in the tide. They then flew to the north side. Later 31 flew to Red Nab from the north and later still joined by another 4. After high water, Pete Crooks saw 39 returning to Red Nab from the south, so there must have been two groups of 4. These are the 31 arriving on the rising tide.

Shelduck 67

Wigeon 200

Mallard pair in off from the south

Great Crested Grebe 1 feeding by No.1 outflow where the Shag has been feeding recently, there must be suitable prey there at the moment.

Shag 1 adult had been near the waterfall then flew to the middle of the harbour.

It then flew to the wooden jetty. It normally flies low over the water, but today it gained height and did a circuit of the harbour before flying out.

High flying Shag

2 goldcrest in the tallest fir tree by the white barrier in the Nature Park - Angela Gillon

Imperial Rd (EW)

Shots by Edward Wilkinson 

Greenfinch

Goldfinch

Common Buzzard

Middleton Nature Reserve (JP)

Still 4 Goosander on the "no swimming" pond.

One of the three female Goosanders

Cetti's warbler one singing from the reed bed in the SE corner of the main pond. Two birds seen flitting between the reeds.

Great Spotted Woodpecker at least 1

Male Great Spotted Woodpecker 

Just out of the recording area - horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall

There was no sign of the Glossy Ibis at 08:55, but it was seen by several observers later in the day. 

This is a nice comparison shot by Edward Wilkinson.
Little Egret with Glossy Ibis

Not bad again.

An overcast but dry day. The east wind slightly fresher than yesterday 

South Shore

Black Redstart 1 female type was still on Ocean Edge foreshore this morning but mobile and elusive at times. Last seen just before lunch.

It was seen by several observers, these are my shots at 09:30 (Malcolm)

Black Redstart 

Great White Egret 1flew east over Red Nab - Kevin Shaw

Meadow Pipit 8 - 4 grounded on the foreshore rocks and 2 x 2 over to north

Meadow Pipit

Rock Pipit 3

For comparison - This is one of Janet's shots of a Rock Pipit earlier this week

Stonechat 1 male behind Red Nab.

Male Stonechat

Pale Bellied Brent goose 30 at least on Red Nab

Greylag Goose 3 SE

Shag 1 adult initially resting on the wooden jetty

Shag (left) with a Cormorant 

But not long after it was feeding on the seaward end of No.1 outflow again.

This Cormorant had caught a reasonably sized Bass near No.2 outflow. Too large to swallow easily when it is thrashing around. They drown them by breaking their gill filaments and taking them under. It doesn't take long, it was all over in a minute. This is a series of clips, you can see on its last dive the Bass is no longer moving, despite the Cormorant prompting it to. This time, when the Cormorant resurfaces the Bass is already in swallowing position and it is soon gone.

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

Just a quick check of the "no swimming" pond confirmed that the 4 Goosander are still present.

Cetti's warbler 2 singing

Black Redstart best of a pretty decent day

A light east wind. Sunny till mid afternoon when it clouded over, but remained dry.

South Shore

Black Redstart 1 female type. 

Located at Red Nab late morning by Kevin Eaves

It was seen till 14:00 then moved off somewhere. But it returned later and was relocated by Alan Physick half way along Ocean Edge foreshore in the late afternoon.

It wasn't there when I checked earlier in the morning at high water (Malcolm). But on the scrub near the lighthouse there were

Stonechat 3 - a male plus two female, there were still two female when Kevin got there later, probably the same two. One flew across the harbour towards the sandworks.

This is Kevin's shot of the female that remained on the south side

These are the two earlier females, Kevin's bird is probably the
upper bird here. The lower female was a paler bird

This is the paler female

Male Stonechat

This is the darker of the two females

Pale-bellied Brent goose 38. They were hard to count on Red Nab as these neap tides barely reach it and there are many rocks and ledges to obscure view. I eventually decided there were 31, but when they flew to the north side there was actually 38.

Pale-bellied Brent geese flying to the north side 

Shelduck 55

Wigeon 200

Eider 1 male in harbour mouth

Shag 1 adult feeding along the seaward edge of No.1 outflow.

Rock Pipits 6, including 2 near the lighthouse being surprisingly tolerant of the Stonechats

Peregrine Falcon 2 at least

Middleton Nature Reserve (JP)

Male plus 3 female Goosander 

Male Goosander

Female Goosander

This one was taking a drink

This one was trying to locate a fish to dive for

Two of five Gadwall on the "no swimming" pond

Gadwall pair

Male Mallard

Male Pheasant 

The pair of Mute Swans are progressing with nest building

Cetti's Warbler 3 at least singing

Goldcrest 1 

Just out of the recording area - horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall

Glossy Ibis plus Green Sandpiper feeding in the afternoon at least.