More Blackwits

Freezing overnight and a cool day despite the almost constant sunshine. The north wind varied between NE and NW

South shore - Malcolm 10:30 - 11:30

A scan along the waterline failed to locate any small waders so I just checked from the saltmarsh to Red Nab

Linnet 12 along the edge of the saltmarsh 

Pied Wagtail 10 on Ocean Edge grass

Rock Pipit 1 flew from foreshore to Red Nab

Shelduck 19 out from the foreshore 

Black-Tailed Godwit 13 feeding in the same area as yesterday between the end of the foreshore and Red Nab

This is the location. The culverted freshwater runoff towards the end of
the foreshore is in the foreground, Red Nab in the background. Some of
the Godwits in between 

They were finding small bivalves, seemingly very easily 

The bird on the left has a bivalve

They were all feeding happily enough until the tide brought them closer together. There were clearly some opposing factions.

This one was seen off with a peck on the backside 

Some had already left, and this remaining group had a bit of bickering to do, before leaving in two lots to the SW

Wigeon 100+

Pale-bellied Brent geese 13. Another party made up of smaller units. First 8 arrived, then 3 plus another 2

Pale-bellied Brent Geese and Wigeon

Grey Heron. Also 3 Little Egrets on Red Nab

Small Tortoiseshell butterfly flew along the sea wall this afternoon - Kevin

Heysham skear - Malcolm 15:15 - 16:30

The tide was really too late for a proper check. I wouldn't normally start on this time/height tide till 15:45 so just the first few pebbles of the skear were exposed as I started. The sun was low and bright......but not for long!

Eider 200+ there are over 150 in this clip. There were many more further along but the low sun prevented looking that far.

Eider pair

Red-breasted Merganser 1

Great Crested Grebe 1

Oystercatcher c2000 - probably not more than normal, it is just easier to estimate numbers when you can see them all at once

Curlew 25 

Bar-Tailed Godwit 1

Redshank 60

Knot 1200 - they arrived in three lots from the south, 100, 800 and 300. I managed to see four flagged birds before the light was too bad. Unfortunately the three I managed to read have already been seen this autumn. The fourth is a new bird but I couldn't read the code.

Turnstone 25

This mean looking military jet roared past, without any of the birds seeming
to notice. I suspect that is because the strange looking thing in the sky is already
past before they hear the strange sound in the sky.

By this time the "evening" light was giving the birds a warm glow,
although I doubt they felt warm!

Bar-Tailed Godwit with Knot and an Oystercatcher 

Turnstone

Someone switched the light out!

A nice day for a long walk

A dry day with a sunny morning, more cloud around in the afternoon. A light variable breeze.

South shore Malcolm 09:00 - 11:15

Shelduck 41

Black-Tailed Godwit 3 feeding between the foreshore rocks and Red Nab

Mud dripping from its relatively short bill

Black Tailed Godwits

It is hardly surprising that there was mud dripping from their bills. This is one feeding, in the company of a Redshank.

This clip shows the location. It is taken from the end of the foreshore looking towards Red Nab.

They headed off to the NW

One of three Little Egret. Also a Grey Heron on the saltmarsh 

Lots of gulls on Red Nab and No.2 outfall. Almost all Black-Headed gulls

The plan was to head out to the waterline to check any waders. As I was walking out several thousand waders all along the waterline as far as  Potts corner were in the air and clearly under attack by a raptor.

Some of the waders under attack

This breakaway group were just out from Red Nab 

They eventually settled on the waterline out from Red Nab, but I was still some distance from them and it took several minutes before I could see what they were. 

Mainly Knot and Dunlin

But just as I was getting close enough to check them out properly they all
lifted again and disappeared far to the south

This was the reason. This Peregrine just flew over them, it payed them no heed,
so presumably it had just finished eating whatever it caught in the earlier attack.

All that remained were me, a Redshank and a Bar-Tailed Godwit. At least it provided a comparison with the earlier Black-Tail clip.

Eider 1 male

Eider

The dredger behind was surprisingly quick for what looks like an old tin bathtub!

The waterline waders never returned. It had been a long walk out, now time to take the longer walk back (no open line to the foreshore by this time). Fortunately I could take it more leisurely on the way back. 

Higher up the shore there were

Redshank 40

Dunlin 2

Ringed Plover 5

Grey Plover 1

Dunlin and Ringed Plover

Grey Plover

At the saltmarsh 

Wigeon c60

Lapwing 10

Common Snipe 30+

The marsh seemed to be alive with Snipe and Wigeon

Common Snipe

Lapwing and Turnstone

Linnet 60

Greenfinch 10

Reed Bunting 5

North shore

Pale-bellied Brent goose 5 out from the skear - David Kaye 15:15

Earlier Katharine and Dom had seen 15

Middleton Nature Reserve - Rosemary and Peter

Main Pond (southern section not checked)

Common Darters 1 pr Ovipositing

Common Darter Lone Male 3 at least

Mute Swan 1 pr

Mallard 8

Moorhen 4

Coot 3

Black Headed Gulls 13

Cetti's Warbler 1 singing

Main pond

Common Darters

This one on Peter's trousers 

And this one on Rosemary's shoulder. It's nice to be this close to nature

Plenty of waders

A cold start then a sunny morning, more overcast in the afternoon. An east breeze.

South shore

I checked the shore out from the saltmarsh - Malcolm 09:00 - 10:30

There was ice on my windscreen when I set off.

Lots of waders on the shore, but the quickly rising tide wouldn't let them settle. 

Even the Oystercatchers where having to run in front of the tideline.

Oystercatcher 85

Knot c4000

Dunlin c2000

Bar-Tailed Godwit 240

Grey Plover 75

Some of the waders out from Red Nab, the line of waders in the water
are Bar-Tailed Godwits. 

Knot and Dunlin. One of the Knot with a reddish belly. Five colour marked
Knot were seen, including the first two from a Dutch scheme this autumn 

Bar-Tailed Godwit, Knot and Grey Plover

Grey Plover, Knot and Dunlin

Janet checked from the foreshore on the ebbing tide in the afternoon. The waders had returned, but the light is behind them looking from that direction. Makes for some nice shots though.

Mainly Knot

The Black-Headed gulls were making a racket!

Curlew

Redshank

The Wigeon were leaving the saltmarsh 

Wigeon

Some of the Shelducks

Little Egret

Cormorant 

Reed Buntings