Warbling in the snow!

The fresh NW cold wind continued, although not quite as biting as yesterday. Largely sunny in the morning, but snow then hail showers and sunshine in the afternoon.

South shore

Shelduck 26

Wheatears 4

Linnet 2

Rock pipits 5 (1 briefly on foreshore then Red Nab, 2 between lighthouse and waterfall, 2 "agitated" near the, now locked, gate the other side of the waterfall (where Fishers building is being stripped). But the agitation appeared to be due to the dredger working very close to the wall (nest site?).

This is one of the birds between the lighthouse and waterfall, I was trying to see if it was ringed on the right leg (see post 4/4/21), but it was hunkered down against the cold wind, and protected its right leg with all the skill of a fan dancer (MD)

So I cheated and snook around and took a shot from backstage 

Success! So the bird Jean ringed is a mature male defending territory.
This is almost exactly mid point between the lighthouse and the waterfall,
the other bird was directly over the waterfall, so possibly there are three
territories between the lighthouse and, what was, Fishers.

Middleton Nature Reserve - checked by Josh Hedley in the morning

Canada Goose- 2

Mute Swan- 11 on the main pond and another single on the "no-swimming" pond.

Jay- 3 together

Willow Warbler- 2 singing

Chiffchaff- 6

Blackcap- 2 singing

Blue Tit by Janet - it's yellow face evidence of it feeding in the catkins.

North Shore

Red Throated Diver 3 in an hour - ref Pete

Rock Pipits 2 Heysham Head - ref Josh

Osprey 1 was reported heading south along Morecambe Promenade in the afternoon, it isn't clear yet whether it entered Heysham air space or not.

Heysham Nature Reserve - afternoon 

By this time there were short but heavy snow and hail showers, but in between the sun shone.

Chiffchaff 4 

Willow Warbler 2

This short clip gives you an idea of the ferocity of the showers, not just the snow, but the wind increased too

To be fair, the warblers didn't actually sing through this, but they did continue calling, although, drowned out by the wind in this clip.

Roe deer 2, I only managed a glimpse of them disappearing. Unfortunately, not enough to establish if it was a doe with a fawn.

This is my favourite "wild" flower - Snake's Head Fritillary 
When and how it became established here is not clear, but it 
has been self sustaining on the reserve for many years.

There is seldom any milage in videoing flowers, but this clip of these delicate blooms in a hailstorm, to me, has a unique beauty! (MD)