A fresh SE wind, some light showers, but dark all day.
Heysham Skeer - low water 13:45
Eider c60 quite distant
Red-Breasted Merganser 2
Great Crested Grebe 2
Knot c200
Pale-Bellied Brent 10 - feeding on the gut weed in the SE corner of the skeer. They have shown here three times so far this winter. Each time a neap low water in the afternoon. Respective low water heights: 2.53m, 2.57m and 2.53m. It's 2.18m tomorrow, but still a realistic chance of a repeat performance.
Visibility was poor and with no sun to get in front of, I didn't risk going too close. But I did manage to confirm that the two ringed birds were the regular Canadian Ringed birds.
Pete has provided this graphic mapping out the flight lines of Brent following routes that must be similar to the ones used by these birds.
Middleton Nature Reserve
Just a quick look at the two main ponds.
Mute - not quite sure what has happened, but there were two adult today, and peace seems to have broken out!
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| These are all 6 birds resting on the main pond peninsula. The far left bird is the ostracised juvenile, but it is not usually tolerated so close. I can't think that the aggressive male is one of the adult. |
Gadwall 24
Shoveller 3 male
Teal 2 male
Mallard 2
No sign of any Little Grebe
Pink-Footed goose - another low dusk/dark flight SW to roost. c500 between 16:25 and 16:50
Janet went to check out the Norwegian ringed Oystercatcher at lunchtime. Sure enough it's still around. Every sighting of this bird has seen it with an adult bird with a significant limp. A travelling companion?
Today Janet had her camera with her.
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| Originally it was on the football field, then flew.... |
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| ......to the cricket field "open" these images to see the ring details clearly |
