More Goosander

A bright sunny day with a fresh NW wind.

South shore

I had a walk out from the saltmarsh on the rising tide to check out the waders (Malcolm). It was obvious from a long way from the waterline that the Peregrine were also checking out the waders, they kept lifting but after a while became more settled, presumably the Peregrine had made its/their catch.

Sanderling 1 - only seen from distance early on, no sign when I got closer.

Sanderling -  lower middle

I managed a reasonably accurate count of the larger waders

Curlew 20

Oystercatcher 25

Bar-Tailed Godwit 180

Grey Plover 19

The small waders were so mobile that only an estimate was practical.

Knot 600

Dunlin 250

Bar-Tailed Godwit and Dunlin

These clips gives a sense of the chaos

This is what the small waders are feeding on. Each pimple of mud covers a tiny mollusc 

Meadow Pipit 6 over to north

Wheatear 7 between saltmarsh and Red Nab

Wheatears

Pale-bellied Brent goose 39 feeding on Red Nab

Shelduck 10

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD, AG)

Goosander 5 female/1st winter

In the morning there were just two female and a 1st winter (left side)

When Angela checked in the afternoon there were five (a good record shot with a mobile phone).
So a minimum of eight different birds seen here this spring, as there has also been three adult males.

Gadwall 3

Cetti's Warbler 2

Chiffchaff 2

Brimstone butterfly 1 male 

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

Glossy Ibis still present morning and afternoon 

Rapid ringing response

A very strong wind, but there was a bit of north in it making it a WNW. It threatened rain all day with some short showers, particularly in the afternoon.

Pete (M) checked the heliport roost and managed to read a ringed Oystercatcher. Remarkably he received its history within 20 minutes.

Ringed as a nestling in Norway 2022, this was its first sighting 

Report from Pete Crooks:

50 minute seawatch from the North harbour wall 9.20 - 10.10 am. 

Just c35 Kittiwake flying out of the bay at 9.40 am

Earlier Pete (M) saw flock of 20 out, 10 and 25 in prior to the 35 out so possibly same birds in separately then out together

South shore

I had a walk along the sea wall on the rising tide this morning (Malcolm). It was hard walking against the wind, but the wind too much from the north to blow anything into the bay.

Pale-bellied Brent geese 53 flew to Red Nab from the north side.

Shelduck 4

Wigeon 9

Wheatear 5

Wheatear battling against the wind to reach the foreshore rocks

Rock Pipit 2

This Curlew was struggling to stand against the wind, but is eventually rewarded with a snack.

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

Just a quick look at the "no swimming" pond to check on the Goosanders, but none seen today.

Cetti's warbler 2 singing

Chiffchaff 2 singing plus this one flitting through the bushes above the pond. This time of year is easiest to see them before the foliage emerges.

Heysham Nature Reserve (JP)

Janet managed this nice sequence of Roe Deer

Female Roe deer. Only the females have this rump tuft.
It's not a true tail, just a tuft of hair sported over winter

Jean passed on some interesting statistics. So far this year 90 species have been covered by this blog. But more importantly, there have been 30 contributors. All records and any photographs are always welcome and gratefully received. See contact details on the side bar.

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

Glossy Ibis still present at 09:00 at least.

Mark Jones noted the record of the new Rookery just beyond Middleton Village and sent this phone camera shot of a Rook visiting his Middleton Sands holiday caravan feeding area. This is the first visit on 7th March. 

Kitts on the move

Sunny after an early shower, a few scattered showers by evening. A fresh west wind.

Pete did an early seawatch 0735-0905: 

103 kittiwake in (5 flocks all before 0800)

4 red throated diver (all summer plumage) in

drake common scoter out

drake Goosander in.  

Northbound trickle lesser black-backed and common gull

Ocean Edge/Red Nab (MD, JP)

Wheatear 5 at least. There were 4 when I checked, but at least 2 of these moved on. Janet had 3 later, so at least 1 additional bird.

Male Wheatear

Pale-bellied Brent goose 49 feeding on Red Nab

Shelduck 4

Wigeon 14

Eider 1 male

Female and male Newt sp in the Nature Park pond
Unfortunately diagnostic features not visible

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

Just a quick check of the two main ponds

Goosander 4 (1 male). I'm posting this clip as I will be posting one of a male Merganser later for comparison.

Little Grebe 3 - 2 together on main pond. This is one of them unfortunately with the light behind it.

Cetti's warbler 3 singing

Chiffchaff 3 singing

Heysham skear - low water 17:00 (MD)

Pale Bellied Brent goose 49 at least, once again there were small groups all around the skear just resting.

Two adult and a first winter Brent, looking to have plenty of fat reserves for
their upcoming transatlantic flight! Also Knot and Oystercatcher 

For some reason this group decided to have a fly around, they weren't spooked. Half ended up in the NE skear corner and the rest returned to the north side. The clip is really to show how the skear looks at this time of year.

Eider 22

Red-breasted Merganser 4 - this is a male.

Knot c1,000

Dunlin 2 at least

Dunlin (foreground) with Knot

Bar-Tailed Godwit 38 north in two flocks (13 and 25)

Kittiwake 206 - they were heading high to the north then began circling. 

Kittiwake 

They were still circling so I checked around to see if there were more flocks. When I looked back they had disappeared, they must have dropped down and settled on the sea somewhere near the stone jetty.

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

Glossy Ibis still feeding

Wet, but worthwhile

Opposite to recent days, a dry night, the rain started mid morning and showers continued for the rest of the day. A freshening SW wind.

Just my stuff so far (Malcolm) and it rained each time I got out of my car!

Ocean Edge/Red Nab

Dark-bellied Brent Goose 1

Pale-bellied Brent goose 69

I could see there were high numbers of Brent on Red Nab from the foreshore, this was the best angle to see them all so I took this clip. I hadn't realised at the time that the Dark-bellied was with them. It wasn't there when I reached Red Nab so it must have moved on. It is in this clip, the last Brents in the clip are the two Canadian ringed birds and their first winter, although you can only see the rings of one bird.

If you didn't spot the Dark-bellied in the above clip, this is the location 16 seconds into the clip

Wheatear 1 on Red Nab

Male Wheatear

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just a quick passing check of the "no swimming" pond

Goosander 5 (1 male)

The mute pair were acting all lovey dovey, I had a good idea what was going to happen next.......

This is the Rookery spotted by Pete yesterday. It is just across the road from the horse paddock where the Ibis feeds. Fortunately on the recording area side of the road. The clip starts on two of the Rooks then pans out to show the nests and more Rooks.

Three of at least six Rooks

It will be interesting to see how this colony develops

North Shore

Knowing that the Canadian ringed birds were with the Brent flock prompted me to check the gutweed situation out from the play area. Close in it is lush and clearly untouched.

Gutweed, just part of large swathes near the sea wall by the play area.
The Brent aren't keen on feeding here but do some years when there is no other option.

Clearly the Brent have had other options this year, perhaps they have found a food supply further to the north. This afternoon 65 at least were feeding close to the shore edge of the inner skear. There is not much gutweed there but clearly preferable to feeding so close to the sea wall, and obviously enough for them. It isn't that they don't know there is more gutweed here, the Canadian ringed birds have fed here many times in previous years. I didn't see them fly off, but as I was leaving they had moved on, but not to the play area.

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

Glossy Ibis still feeding

We have a Rookery (just)

Overnight showers stopped by 09:00. After that dry with sunny spells. A light wind switched from NE to NW.

Pete did a check of the sea from Knowlys Rd:

Goldeneye 1 female with Red-breasted Mergansers, then disappeared. Possibly flew north.

Red-Throated Diver 2 distant 

Middleton Nature Reserve (JP)

Goosander 4 (no males) on the "no swimming" pond.

Female Goosander

Coot nest building

Moorhen

Reed Bunting 

Female Bullfinch 

Two of several Chiffchaff, this one ringed

Precariously balanced Wood Pigeon

The food around the main pond feeding area attracts plenty of Brown Rats. Contrary to their reputation they do endeavour to keep themselves clean.

Brown Rat

South shore (MD)

Shelduck 4

Wigeon 27

Red-breasted Merganser pair

Knot c1500 feeding just out from Red Nab.

Redshank 150

Peregrine Falcon 2 - but just watching on, presumably they had already eaten.

Peregrine Falcon

Carrion Crow 10 south in ones and twos.

Shag 1 adult on the wooden jetty. Quite distant, but it put a bit of a show on today.

Wheatear 1 male on foreshore

Rock Pipit 5 (one each, Red Nab, sea wall and lighthouse, 2 at the waterfall). This is the sea wall bird.

This Herring Gull has a small fish in the harbour. Not a species of fish normally seen here. It seems strange that it appears reluctant to eat it and that the other gulls totally ignored it. They normally squabble over every morsel, perhaps these too have already eaten. The fish is still alive, you may prefer the still below.

The fish is upside down in this shot. As with most fish it has a dorsal fin in the
middle of its back. But this fish has a second fin between the dorsal fin and the 
tail (caudal) fin. This is an adipose fin, which means this fish is one of the salmon 
family. A smolt, either a Sea Trout or a Salmon. It has just moved to the sea from one
 of our local rivers, hopefully there are many more about and at least some will make
 it. If it is a Salmon smolt, any that do make it can head as far as Greenland to feed 
before returning to the same river to breed. Sea Trout stay in more coastal waters,
although not in the bay.

Redwing 1 near Half Moon Bay Cafe

Other stuff from Pete:

Stonechat 1 female Imperial Rd

Rookery on recording area boundary in wood north side of road from ibis (3 nests plus adults).  Historically, Rooks have only been seen in the recording area on occasional autumn passage. 

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

Glossy Ibis still feeding

A bit of synchronised courtship displaying

Again, another dry day after overnight rain. Warm and sunny by the afternoon, with a light west wind.

Heysham Nature Reserve (JP)

Brimstone Butterfly 

Greenfinch

Great Tit

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

"No swimming" pond

Mute Swan 2 adults feeding

Goosander 6 (2 males)

This is one of the males having a preen while a Wren sings its heart out

Teal 2

Coot 2

Little Grebe 1 feeding - it has a small fish here. This clip ends with a burst of song from a Cetti's Warbler.

Cetti's Warbler 2 singing

Chiffchaff 2 singing

Stock Dove 1

Sparrowhawk 1 - chased off by a Carrion Crow

Main pond

Mute Swan 5 immature, 2 with white plumage looking like a young pair.

Mallard 10 - it isn't often that Mallard prompts the post title. This female Mallard is already paired up, but 5 more males were trying to impress, although they looked like they were as much about impressing each other than the female. (Malcolm)

Gadwall 1

Male Gadwall

Coot 3

Moorhen 1

Little Grebe 1

Cetti's Warbler 2 singing

Chiffchaff 2 singing plus 3 others seen

Bumblebee sp or possibly a Cuckoo Bumblebee 

Heysham Skear - low water 14:00 (MD)

Little Egret 2

Pale-bellied Brent goose 41 - they were scattered all over the skear, not feeding (there is no gutweed here, a green tinge to the outer rocks from the play area suggests that there is more there now).

Two adult and a first winter Brent goose

There was no path to the skear edge without having to pass too close to some of them, so I chose to pass the above three as they were the smallest group. They flew to the water about 50m away, I wouldn't have disturbed them if they had been feeding, but they just moved from resting on the skear to resting on the water. By now the tide was coming in and the others also moved to the sea, some to the south side, but most to the north side. This is the north side group, there is wisps of gutweed available from some of the submerged rocks, a few of the geese were seeking this, but most just milled about.

Shag 1 adult resting on conger rock.

Initially sharing with a Great Black-Backed gull

But it was pleased when the gull left

Only to be replaced by a Cormorant 

Eider just 12

No sign of Great Crested Grebes or Red-breasted Mergansers.

Waders were significantly reduced too with the exception of Turnstone 120. There were 45 in this feeding group, leaving no stone unturned.

Oystercatcher 500

Knot 8

Redshank 40

Curlew 5

Bar-tailed Godwit 3 on the beach to the south of the skear.

Grey seal 1 - a cloud of gulls gave it away. Seals are very messy eaters and the gulls know it.

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

Glossy Ibis still feeding

Brambling best of a good mix

A few showers ended by 08:15. After that dry with some prolonged sunny spells. A light SW wind.

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Jean managed the first ringing session of the year, the pick of the catch was

Brambling 1 x 1st winter female

North Shore (Pete)

Shag 1 adult feeding near conger rock

Pale-bellied Brent goose 22 in the same area

 

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD, JP)

Goosander 6, but a different mix today.

2 males, and what looks to be an adult female with a first winter bird, plus two more adult females (Malcolm)

They were still present when Janet checked later and took these excellent shots.

Male Goosander

Female Goosander

This one still has some of the pale face markings of an immature bird

Singing Chiffchaff, there were some moving but none singing when I checked.
But the later sunshine brought them into song

Cetti's Warbler 3 heard singing

At least two Goldcrest

This Reed Bunting has taken to hanging around and using the
feeders in the main pond car park

The warm morning sunshine also brought out the insects, several queen Bees were seen but too quick to identify.

Hoverfly sp

Seven Spot Ladybird 

Great Spotted Woodpecker pair, flew together to the southern section of the reserve.

South shore (MD)

A 10 minute morning check of the foreshore just as the last shower was easing found nothing grounded, but 14 Meadow Pipit north.

An afternoon walk along the sea wall

Wigeon just 84, they will not be with us much longer so I took a clip of this pair looking fine in breeding plumage.

In the Nature Park

Chiffchaff 2

Goldcrest 2

Great spotted Woodpecker 1 male

Redwing 2

Redwing

Pink-footed geese flying south over Janet's house this afternoon 

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

Glossy Ibis still feeding