It was a juggling act today.....unfortunately all the balls ended up on the floor!

A cloudless sunny start till late morning when heavy showers began. The sun returned for the last few hours of daylight. A NW light wind.

South shore 

Malcolm 11:30 - 13:00. The morning sun and today's 8.3m tide were ideal for checking waders along the waterline. Unfortunately, by the time I reached the saltmarsh heavy rain had started. So I just went along the sea wall instead. Yesterday, during a basically wet day I managed a relatively dry walk along the sea wall. Today in what was supposedly a dry day, I got a soaking!

Linnet 150 on the saltmarsh 

Greenfinch 8 around the saltmarsh 

Reed Bunting 3 around the saltmarsh 

Reed Bunting 

Shelduck 113 out from the foreshore 

Shelduck filtering the mud

Wigeon 54 ended up on Red Nab

One of three Little Egret

The only passerine along the wall was this Pied Wagtail 

There were loads of Black-Headed gulls but mainly resting, not feeding.

Gulls along the south rail of No.2 outfall

Gulls along the north rail of No.2 outfall

There were also lots of gulls on the mud between the outfalls including 5 adult a 2nd calendar year and a 1st calendar year Mediterranean gull

2cy (top) and adult Mediterranean Gull

This green ringed adult is one of our regular veterans Ringed as a chick
in Germany 2012. It has been seen here pretty much every summer since

They were running out of space and another heavy shower was just starting. 
Time to head off.

Janet also checked Ocean Edge and was thwarted by the weather. At least the rain wetted mud provided a nice mirror effect 

Oystercatcher 

Redshank

Curlew

I returned in the sunshine this afternoon (Malcolm) 15:30 - 17:00. But the tide was now ebbing and the onshore wind holding the water on the mud for 50m beyond where the waterline should actually be, so no chance of checking legs for colour rings. Shame, there were a lot of waders.

c5000 waders, mainly Knot. But the sun was behind them 

These are along where the waterline should be, but I am stood in water here.
The only way to get a decent look at them was to wade out behind them

I managed to get behind them but the flock split in two

These to the north in full sunlight 

These on the south, but still well within the recording area.

14 Bar-Tailed Godwit were even further out

There were smaller waders higher up the shore so I left the Knot and Godwits in peace. Most of them were just sleeping anyway.

Knot nodding off

3 of 4 Grey Plover and 2 of 300 Dunlin

Dunlin and Redshank

This male Sparrowhawk is becoming a regular in Janet's garden

Clearly not one of the two that have been ringed in the recording area this autumn 

Fowl weather

It rained all morning, heavily at times, just the odd light shower in the afternoon. A light west(ish) breeze.

Middleton Nature Reserve - Malcolm

It was still raining when I set out, but a check of the two main ponds usually provides some interest on a wet day. 

Main pond:

Mute Swan pair

Mallard 8

Shoveler 1 

Coot 4

Moorhen 2

Cormorant 1

 Shoveler 

Mallard pair and a Coot

Mallard pair and a Moorhen 

"no swimming" pond. Surprisingly just two birds!

Mute Swan 1 although it wasn't Mute and was making contact calls, unfortunately no other Mute around to hear

Little Grebe 1

Mute Swan with a wry neck

Little Grebe

South shore - Malcolm 13:00 - 14:30

I was planning on just checking Red Nab, but somehow the rain largely held off and I managed a walk along the sea wall too

Linnet at least 120 at the saltmarsh 

Shelduck 22 out from the saltmarsh 

Shelduck and Redshank

Wigeon 45 around Red Nab

The males are starting to moult into breeding plumage

This one was having a good preen

Little Egret 4

Little Egret with Black-Headed gulls, Oystercatcher and a Redshank

Grey Heron 1

Fishing on the walk out

Resting on the way back

Mediterranean Gull just 1 adult seen

Mediterranean Gull (top) with a Black-Headed Gull and Oystercatcher 

There were lots of Black-Headed gulls feeding on No.2 outfall. There was
clearly plenty of food for them again, but nothing else was with them.
You can see the remains of the old wooden jetty behind 

Plenty of Cormorants on the wooden jetty, but I couldn't see any Shag

Pied/White Wagtails 5. I struggle separating them when they are wet

Rock Pipit 1

Rock Pipit

Shrimps on the menu today

A dry day with long sunny periods. A light south wind became fresher as it moved to SW

Heysham skear - Malcolm 09:15 - 10:30

Eider 11

Red-breasted Merganser 8

Red-breasted Merganser pair

Shag 1 immature feeding

Little Egret 16

Plenty going on here. The tide is rising quickly the Egrets, gulls and waders were after shrimps 

This Black-Headed gull had its own little channel, but it was quickly filled by the tide (Knot in the background)

It managed to catch one before the tide moved it on

Oystercatcher 1500

Curlew 60

Bar-Tailed Godwit 15 (10 + 5)

Bar-Tailed Godwits

Redshank 200

Knot several small groups scattered around eventually merged into one flock of 150 and headed off to the north

Turnstone 45

Ringed Plover 12 together high up the shore

One of two Barrel Jellyfish. This one is up side down 

Janet also saw this Barrel Jellyfish out from the Midland. This one the right way up
with its tentacles buried in the mud. There must be a few around. They can be quite
large, but they are not dangerous to people or pets (unless you have pet shrimps!)

South shore Malcolm 12:45 - 14:00

I walked along the sea wall to see if the Arctic Tern was still around. It wasn't.

Wigeon 52 on Red Nab

Wigeon

Mediterranean Gull 2 on Red Nab

Adult Mediterranean Gull

1st calendar year Mediterranean Gull (top) with 1st calendar year Black-Headed Gull

The density of Harlequin Ladybirds continues to increase along the fence
that leads to Ocean Edge entrance

The forecast is looking a bit grim for tomorrow!