A good Med count

West to WNW breeze regular light showers

First a correction from yesterday. There were two juvenile Meds on No.1 outflow, but on the clip I originally posted I'd actually followed a juvenile BHG. Not easy to check through the small camera viewfinder, but I should have realised before posting! I'm blaming an evening pub meal washed down with a few beers, before doing the post last night! Or it may just be incompetence. Either way I've changed the clip now. (MD)

Pete and Jean did a pincer movement to check the number of Meds around the south shore this afternoon. Pete checking from Red Nab and Jean at the feeding beach near the wooden jetty, coordinating by mobile to ensure there was no overlap. The interesting result being:

Mediterranean gulls 27.

Adult 14

3cy at least 2

2cy at least 4

2cy/3cy 2 partially obscured

Juveniles 5

The only ringed bird seen was this metal ringed adult
You can see the sand mason worms tubes, looking more prominent now.

Whimbrel at least  2

Grey seal 1

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just a very brief check of the two main ponds found the wildfowl, pretty much unchanged

Mute pair + 9 cygnet

Coot 2

Moorhen 4

Mallard 9

Gadwall 1 female with 3 young

Grey Heron 1

Only minimal coverage

The wind was light and mainly from the north. Plenty of showers, but not particularly heavy.

South shore

I only had time for one short walk today, so I checked the beach next to the wooden jetty 3.5 hours before high water. No other reports so far (MD)

Common Whitethroat 3 female/immature together on Power Station southern perimeter fence.

Rock Pipit 5 - 3 on Red Nab, 2 on Ocean Edge foreshore 

Whimbrel 1 calling from Red Nab

Mediterranean gull 10 - 6 adult/3cy on beach near wooden jetty, also 1 x 2cy and 1 juvenile here. Also 2 juvenile on No.1 outflow.

This clip shows one of the juveniles (I inadvertently followed a young BHG on the original clip I posted here, should have spotted before I posted it though - sorry for any confusion MD)

This is a still of the juvenile Mediterranean gull from the above clip

This is a still from the original clip. The upper bird is one of juvenile meds,
but the lower one a juvenile BHG, unfortunately that's the one I followed! (MD)

I'm not sure what's happening with No.1 outflow. One minute there are lots of gulls feeding, although most are sitting on the water, then a few minutes later there is nothing feeding. There was no dredger activity in the harbour today. Perhaps the fish and shrimps being removed from the cooling water are periodically being fed back into the outflows. More observations required! This clip shows the feeding at it's height.

This is the same outflow 5 minutes later - empty!

Most of the meds were resting on the rocks on the western end of the beach, till moved towards the wall by the tide. No ringed birds today.

Most of the meds were resting on these rocks

This is the 2nd calendar year bird, scavenging Oystercatcher leftovers 

I wouldn't normally bother posting this, but it is a slow news day. This Marbled Beauty moth was sheltering from the rain on my back door this morning. Not an uncommon moth, but nice to see nether the less. It is an attractive moth.

Marbled Beauty 

Waifless and strayless

The strong WSW wind continued through the night and didn't start easing till lunchtime. Showers all day some very heavy.

There was a chance that the wind may have blown in some waifs and strays, and possibly it did, but none were seen/reported.

South shore,

Three quick checks today, trying to dodge the showers

Rock Pipits 5 - one on foreshore, two on Red Nab and two near the waterfall. One flew off leaving this one looking very much like a recent fledgling. So hopefully the waterfall pair have at least one young (it is thought the nest site is within the Fishers complex).

Probable fledging Rock Pipit (MD)

Whimbrel 3 - some seen/heard on each visit 3 was the highlight single sighting 

Mediterranean gull 6 - the beach next to wooden jetty had four adult including one with a white ring at low water. Four adult plus a juvenile arrived as the beach became exposed in the evening, no white ringed bird so at least 5 adult over the two checks. 

There are regularly two or three in the corner near the outflow, I had presumed that they were just resting, but in this clip the bird on the left catches a sand mason worm, it then defends its patch by seeing of the other adult when it came too close. The juvenile is also in this clip.

I can empathise with this clip, wading into the water, not looking where you are going, and falling into a drain - still, being able to fly off, as if nothing had happened, is an advantage.

The combination of hot and wet weather this year, has obviously suited the flora (mainly Unscented Mayweed, Ragwort and Dyers Rocket) along the top of the harbour wall. This stretch is usually mainly bare, with just a few tufts of vegetation. It's a shame there have not been more hot days with east wind to draw the insects in, these flowers would have undoubtedly both help attract and retain any. Still time for suitable opportunities.

A view from the waterfall looking back to the lighthouse 

The lighthouse looks pristine in the above shot, it is just being painted. Unfortunately the rain has curtailed activity.

A before and after view of the lighthouse 

Meds again - looking hungry

The WSW wind was quite fresh in the morning, becoming a strong wind by the evening. Mainly overcast with some light showers during the day, becoming heavy by late evening.

Heysham skear - low water 09:50

It somehow felt more "normal" today, I suppose by that I mean that the waders around felt like residents, not just off passage as of late. No Knot though (MD)

Great Crested Grebe 3 still in largely summer plumage

Little Egret 5

Grey Heron 1

Oystercatcher I thought I would try and estimate numbers, but it's like counting trees as you walk through a wood - they're everywhere. Eventually accounted for c1000 on the middle skear with presumably more on the outer skear.

Curlew only saw 10, definitely much reduced from recent visits, although still large numbers roosting on Red Nab.

One of today's Curlew 

Whimbrel at least 1, seen and heard several times

Turnstone 60+

Redshank c20 - this is typical numbers for this species here.

Dunlin 2 - one with Turnstone and one alone

Dunlin in summer plumage 

I'm not optimistic about attracting Brent Geese early this winter. There is some gut weed in the SE corner where they have been feeding in recent years, but not as much as many other areas. Plus there is no Sea Lettuce this year. I believe is was the crop of sea lettuce here that attracted them early last winter.

This is the SE corner plenty of weed but only gut weed and that is currently everywhere 

This is a lush area of gut weed, it's like this in several areas away from the SE corner

There are some patches of Sea Lettuce, but on the north side and only accessible on 
spring tides. This is where the honeycomb worms still prevail, I'm not suggesting the
Sea Lettuce needs the honeycomb worms but they presumably flourish in the same conditions 

Things can change of course, and I may be totally wrong anyway, it has been known! Watch this space.

South shore

Lions Mane jellyfish 10+ on the beach south of the saltmarsh, obviously a casualty of the west wind. They are getting bigger too!

Lions Mane Jellyfish plus my size 9 boot - avoid the temptation to touch!
(both the jellyfish and my foot! MD)

Rock Pipits 5 - 2 on foreshore plus 3 on Red Nab

Redshank c100

Mediterranean gull 19 all adult except 3 x 3rd calendar year 

18:35 the beach next to the wooden jetty wasn't quite exposed, but there were already 9 meds waiting on the water.

18:40 the beach starts to become exposed and the Meds arrive from both the north and south as well as off the water. 

Mediterranean gull arriving from the north

This clip is just to show how close to the wall the birds arrive, when they are hungry enough!

In just a few minutes there were 16 meds on the waterline plus two resting near the outflow, but the heavens were turning black so it was time to leave. On my way back another adult was making its way to the beach.

I got back dry, just, but suspect Lancaster got a soaking.

Black skies over Lancaster

Heysham got away with it then, but as I write this, 21:45, thunder is rumbling outside and the wind is increasing - looks like waterproofs tomorrow!

Mainly Meds news

Light west breeze all day. Mainly cloudy but no rain till mid evening when light showers began.

First I forgot to add Pete's sightings from yesterday:

Mediterranean gull 15 red nab/ocean edge saltmarsh/on sea nearby latter stages incoming tide plus one by heliport.  All adult or 3cy (2) 

2 Whimbrel Red Nab

Heysham skear - low water 09:10

Great Crested Grebe 2

Greylag goose 13 low to SE

Eider 1

The single Eider 

Curlew c30

Redshank c50

Turnstone c40

Little Egret 14

Grey Heron 2 - yesterday I extolled the virtues of a heron's stealth. Sometimes you have to move in a similar fashion to approach wildlife. I like these two clips, this first one the immature Heron almost strikes, but misses the opportunity (MD)

Undaunted by the near miss, and a complete miss of a neighbouring bird it remains focused and catches a small flatfish on its next attempt.

South shore early evening.

Just a quick walk along the wall to check the Meds feeding beach

Rock Pipit 2 on Red Nab

Whimbrel 1 by No.2 outflow 

Mediterranean gulls 13 (8 adult, 3 x 3cy, 1 x 2cy plus 1 juvenile). Unfortunately the nature of the beach this year does not seem to support the patchwork feeding method normally employed, where the meds defend their own patch of mud to feed on sand mason worms. When that happens the meds end up reasonably evenly spread across the whole beach. But at the moment they are following the tide out (and in again). There are several on this clip, plus some Black-Headed gulls. The juvenile flies in near the start of the clip.

Green Sandpiper and a brassica

The breeze started from south before turning west, some cloud around, particularly in the morning but plenty of sunshine. 

South shore mid morning

Rock Pipit 3 - 2 on Red Nab 1 near lighthouse (not the ringed bird)

Mediterranean gull 6 adult on the beach near wooden jetty.

Willow Warbler 2 at least in the scrub near the lighthouse 

Willow Warbler, there was another less yellow bird and possibly a third

There were few "non resident" butterflies around the scrub.

Large White 1

Small White 6

Small Tortoiseshell 2

This is the brassica referred to in the title, Sea Cabbage. Unlike most plants prefixed "Sea", this actually is a cabbage or at least of the cabbage (brassica) family.

Sea Cabbage

It has taken advantage of a long storm free spell, to grow in a very precarious spot on the foreshore, hopefully it is now rooted sufficiently well to withstand moderate storms. It is well within the splash zone for any high water storm. The location highlighted below.

If you manage to locate this and walk another 50m towards Red Nab, you should come across the Sea Holly, which is, of course, not a holly.

Sea Holly

It's interesting that they are both a similar shade of blue/green, perhaps related to them both being high salt tolerating (the sunflower that tried its best on the saltmarsh didn't get through the first spring tide!).

Middleton Nature Reserve early afternoon 

Mallard 13

Gadwall 1 adult 3 young

Little Grebe 1 adult

Green Sandpiper 1 calling from western marsh. A bird was heard calling on 22/7 and assumed to be this species, so it looks to be hanging around.

House Martin 3

Swallow several

11 species of butterfly seen, most quite numerous.

Red Admiral 1

Peacock 1

Comma 1

Common Blue

Gatekeeper (most numerous)

Meadow Brown

Speckled Wood 

Large Skipper

Small Tortoiseshell 2

Small White

Large White 1

Six species of Dragonfly:

Emperor 

Brown Hawker

Migrant Hawker 3 - the only one I saw stationary, again looked fresh, in that its characteristic "nail" below the thorax had not yet turned yellow (MD)

Migrant Hawker

Black-Tailed Skimmer 5

Common Darter - just 1

Broad-Bodied Chaser 1 male - this seemed odd, it appeared to be ovipositoring. But if you watch in slow motion you can see that most of the dips end just above the water surface (you can select what speed you wish the clip to play by selecting full screen for the clip, then clicking on the gear icon).

Finally, the mute pair with their young were back on the main pond. The aggressive male had chased a third bird to the top of the high bank on the east side and set about it. I thought  he was going to kill the weaker bird, so I stopped filming as started moving round to break them up (ultimately futile I know, but visitors were getting upset). Fortunately, just after this clip he let the bird escape down the slope, when he went down too the weaker bird went back to the top and the aggressive male seemed satisfied that it had been suitably chastened and let it be. Even so, I would advise the more tender hearted readers not to play this clip.

Still some goldfish, plus mixed bathing at Heysham!

The breeze started NE before moving back to the west. Plenty of cloud cover in the morning but more sunshine after lunch.

South shore - 4 hours before high water.

Rock Pipits 4 - 1 on foreshore, 2 on Red Nab, 1 near lighthouse. No sign of the ringed male.

Willow Warbler 1 near lighthouse 

Linnet 29 - 9 on saltmarsh, 6 around Red Nab, originally 4 near lighthouse, but this quickly grew to 14.

There were thousands of tiny flies around the scrub near the lighthouse, presumably home grown, they seemed too small to have flown far. The Pied wagtails were taking advantage and were quickly joined by growing numbers of Linnet.

Great White Egret 1 north past the end of the wooden jetty 09:20.

Mediterranean gull 7 - 6 adult plus 1 3rd calendar year feeding on beach next to wooden jetty. No ringed birds seen today.

Grey Seal 1

This is the pond behind Red Nab again. It is common in this area to see mixed tit feeding flocks, but today it was mixed bathing. Coal, Blue and Long-Tailed tits.

This Migrant Hawker was also near the pond. This is the first record this year.

This Migrant Hawker appears to be teneral (recently emerged), and its wings are pristine,
presumably it hasn't migrated too far (MD)

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Purple Hairstreak butterfly  - I'm hearing reports of a sighting, but not sure yet by whom. But the likely area is the few Oak trees on the northern edge of the central plateau.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just a very quick, fruitless, check for Red-Veined Darter. But did spot the resident Grey Heron catch a goldfish/Rudd or Roach hybrid. I mentioned a while ago that the numbers of these fish had declined to a point were the cormorants have stopped feeding here, but obviously still enough for the stealth of the Heron to catch them.

Grey Heron with a goldfish hybrid 

This is a decent sized prize and the heron took no chances with it. It took it on to dry land before manoeuvring it to eat.

Some moths from Pete's Middleton moth trap last night.

Blackneck 

Dark sword-grass

More Meds feeding and impressive arachnids

Refreshingly cooler today, the east breeze continued but much more cloud cover today

South shore 

First check 4 hours before high water

Wheatear 1 female/immature on Ocean Edge foreshore (not the same as yesterday's bird)

Rock Pipits 3 on Red Nab

Mediterranean gulls 17 ( 14 adult plus 3 x 3rd calendar year). These were feeding on the beach between the wooden jetty and No.1 outflow.

One of the adults and the three 3rd calendar year Mediterranean gulls 
You can see that the sand mason worm tubes are a bit more prominent today.
The top bird is the 3cy with white darvic ring. Unfortunately the wet mud kept
splashing the ring making reading difficult, but at least some characters were read.

It was only 08:45 and still cool, a check of the scrub area located only one butterfly, a Peacock.

Willow Warbler 1 - there was one here yesterday too.

Second check 3 hours after high water

This was both to see if the Meds returned to the beach but mainly to see if the insects were coming in off the sea again.

At 14:45 the breeze was more to the NE, but this is fine to bring any migrating insects ashore. But very little was coming in off. Just a single Small White and a Small Tortoiseshell seen coming in.

A walk along the scrub located just 6 Small White and 2 Small Tortoiseshell, and most of those were at the waterfall end, i.e. about to move on. It looks like what little movement that there had been was just ending. It's normally better when the tide is further out than it was at this time, but better conditions are only advantageous if there are insects to come in. 

There were similar numbers to yesterday of Common Blue and Meadow Brown, but no Gatekeeper. 

While I was in the area a further 5 Small Tortoiseshell came in off, but no more Small White.

Whimbrel 2

Mediterranean gull only 1 unringed 3rd calendar year turned up as the ebbing tide exposed the beach. The technique they use to feed at this stage of the tide, is paddling. They catch the sand mason worms that are still feeding in the shallow water. It's a wonder that there weren't more Meds as this one seemed to be catching plenty. It takes three worms in this short clip.

I'm sure more Meds would have arrived later, but they would have been beyond my ring reading range, so I didn't stay.

This was a bit unusual, this Redshank had caught a relatively large crab, and didn't have the sense to fly off with its catch. It was chased all over the beach with it, this is just the first 30 seconds.

It was chased by Redshank and Oystercatcher alike, but managed to keep hold of its prize. It took a full two minutes to reduce the crab to a size that it could swallow. It forced it down, then continued feeding as if it hadn't eaten for ages! (MD)

If you are arachnophobe, perhaps you had better read no further.

Janet spied this large spider the other day, hunting for the insects below the curve of the Power Station sea defences. I have been advised that this is a Giant House Spider (not a wolf spider as I originally suggested, in this case Giant is part of the name not just an adjective for a normal House spider (MD))

But this is just a tiddler compared to what lurks in Heysham Nature Reserve! Report and pictures by Kevin:

I've recently noticed some large sheets webs in the long grass and gorse at the northern end of the plateau in Heysham nature reserve.  Tickling with a grass stem produced a surprisingly large spider which made me jump! It seems it's the Labyrinth spider. It's a Southern species and we're really at the Northern edge of its range. A bit of digging reveals that it seems to be a bit of a Heysham speciality

Labyrinth spider

This shot shows their very substantial webs. Apparently, their favourite food is grasshoppers, so the webs need to be strong.

Labyrinth spider webs. If you lightly brush one with a piece of grass,
you should tempt the spider out. But don't over do it, we don't want them turning ugly!

East wind brings in the butterflies

A light east breeze in the morning freshened during the afternoon.

South shore

Ocean Edge foreshore and saltmarsh (MD)

Wheatear 1 female/immature on foreshore

The gull roost on the mud out from the saltmarsh was much smaller today. They don't seem to like it when  the mud's wet. Whether that is because they "know" it's wet because the previous tide covered it, and they will have to quickly move on again, or perhaps they just prefer it dry so they can sit on the mud. Either way only c50 gulls were there today and all were stood.

Mediterranean gull 2 adult one with the roosting flock one flew over towards Potts Corner.

Whimbrel 1 calling from saltmarsh 

It was obvious that there had already been an influx of butterflies, the saltmash was awash with:

Small White 20+

Large White 1

Meadow Brown 3

Gatekeeper 2

Peacock 1

Red Nab to Lighthouse (Janet)

Rock Pipits 3 on Red Nab one near the lighthouse 

Lighthouse Rock Pipit. The ringed male has not been seen for a couple of weeks.

One of the Red Nab Rock Pipits

A selection of gulls taking advantage of the freshwater culvert.

Looks like this young Herring Gull has already had its bath.
Not done anything to improve its looks, but I suppose the same
can be said  for all of us as we cope with the heat.

Oystercatcher and Redshank on Red Nab

One of the many Small White seen everywhere this morning

Wooden jetty area in afternoon when tide was out (MD)

At 14:30 there was an average 5 butterflies a minute coming in off the sea. The ratio was 4 Small White plus another, mainly Small Tortoiseshell but occasionally Red Admiral, Peacock and Comma.

A walk along the strip of scrub between the waterfall and lighthouse there were 

Small White 27

Small Tortoiseshell 6

Red Admiral 2

Peacock 2

Gatekeeper 2

Meadow Brown 3

I did this stretch several times all with similar number albeit different insects.

On the scrub at the very end of Power Station there were

Common Blue 20+

Gatekeeper 2

Meadow Brown 5

These three species were probably mainly resident while the others were definitely passing through.

This very pale Comma didn't even make it up the sloping wall without stopping for a rest.

Comma butterfly resting on sloping sea wall after flying in off the sea.

This Red Admiral was in an even worse state, not only were the ends of its wings worn away, but it must have had a drink of nectar and it couldn't re-coil its proboscis.

At least this Peacock looked fine with the light shining through its eyes.

Peacock butterfly 

Disappointingly, there were no dragonflies seen. Then at 15:00 a large one flew straight past me. A blue "saddle" looked promising, and I managed a few shots as it disappeared,

This is the blue saddle that caught my eye

But other shots revealed the plain green thorax of an Emperor. Although, on one
level disappointing, I was pleased that my pictures were good enough to identify
something that otherwise would have remained a "don't know".

No further dragon flies were seen

By 15:30 there were no butterflies coming in off, I had expected them to continue for longer, and perhaps they resumed later, but I left then. There is another, perhaps better, chance tomorrow.

Mediterranean gulls 4 adult on the beach next to the wooden jetty

But the beach was full of feeding gulls, mainly Black-Headed, they seem to have given up with the sand mason worms for now, and are taking advantage of the soft wet mud to "paddle a puddle" and pick off any small invertebrates they disturb

Plenty of rings and things

Almost breathless early on then the westerly breeze returned. Hot and sunny.

South shore - towards high water

Pete Crooks did a thorough check of Red Nab, but started slightly later than planned. This white ringed 3rd calendar year Mediterranean gull must have moved on before he arrived. It was too far out for me to read (MD).

White darvic ringed 3cy Mediterranean gull, bottom centre.
This bird has not been read here before, and it wasn't today - an opportunity for  someone.

Report from Pete:

(mid-morning incoming tide) 

7 Mediterranean Gull (6 adults, 1 2nd CY – all unringed) 

1 Sandwich Tern

7 Whimbrel

colour-ringed Oystercatcher seen around Heysham last winter (Yellow flag with code LA on left leg; Yellow ring on right leg - (details of any sightings in between awaited)).

Heysham Nature Park

Good numbers of butterflies mid-morning 

27 Gatekeeper

14 Common Blue

5 Small Skipper

4 Ringlet

6 Meadow Brown

5 Small White

2 Speckled Wood

On the gull roost just south of the saltmarsh there were:

Mediterranean gulls 10 - 8 adult, 1 x 3rd calendar year and 1 juvenile. The 3cy bird wasn't ringed so at least two around, there was still one adult on Red Nab when I saw Pete so the absolute minimum number of meds was 13.

Three of the adult on the mud were colour ringed

Green ANLT - an annual visitor since 2017 - originally ringed in Germany as a nestling 16/06/2012

White LCG - also annual since 2018 - originally ringed in the Netherlands as a nestling 24/06/10. Since it was here last year it was seen several times wintering in Spain

Plus another Green Ringed bird we have not seen before, we're still working on the characters, hopefully better views tomorrow 

This is the white ringed LCG Mediterranean gull

This is a nice collection - Juvenile Mediterranean gull left
Green Ringed ANLT Mediterranean gull
plus a Common gull and two Black-Headed gulls

Sandwich Tern at least two flying around.

Adult Sandwich Tern

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Janet had a look in the morning:

Quite a lot of butterflies but few large ones yet.

Green Veined White

Small Copper

There were Emperor and Brown Hawkers around plus Common Darters

The male Common Darters are starting to turn red.

I made the mistake of having a short walk around in the afternoon. The walks on the shore and sea wall are quite refreshing in the breeze but it was oppressive in the shelter of the reserve. Didn't see much of note either, apart from this wasp. It was very distinctive and I thought I would easily identify on the internet, but all I could find was the American species Great Black Wasp. Fortunately, I asked for help, and Kevin sent me a link for Amblyjoppa proteus. I'm happy that it is a female of this species, a big one, I estimated 3cm, but the species limit is 2.5cm, so I'll settle for that. (MD)

By popular demand.......Red jelly blobs!

The day started with a light south breeze, but it soon swung back to the west and freshened. Still very hot and sunny.

Ocean Edge and Red Nab - high water 09:25

There were 525 gulls roosting on the mud just out from the saltmarsh 

There were 525 gulls in this first wave of gulls, there was a smaller
roost further out and the dark line in the distance are Curlew 

The gulls were mainly Black-Headed but also included:

Mediterranean gull 10 - 8 adult, 1 x 3rd calendar year and 1 juvenile. There were also 2 additional adult on Red Nab

Sandwich Tern 5 - there were two adult and 3 juvenile flying around.

Four of the Sandwich Terns

Wooden Jetty area - early evening.

No.1 outflow was exceeding busy with feeding gulls. 

It looked promising, not just for this evening, but for the future, this outflow has not been attracting many gulls for a while. It was mainly Black-Headed gulls today but within 5 minutes all feeding had stopped!

Whatever had caused the feeding frenzy, it was over,
and the gulls rested on the beach on either side of the outflow

The water jet dredger was operating in the harbour, I suspect that it either drove a surge of small fish and/or shrimps through the intake, or possibly it stopped the feeding by causing suspended silts to colour the outflow. While I'm on the subject of dredging (MD), the mud level on the beach next to the wooden jetty is about 15cm higher than normal, likely caused by the long spell of calm weather and continuous westerlies, but I suspect the dredging operations make a contribution.

In theory rising mud height shouldn't make much difference to the sand mason worms, they can easily extend their tubes. But it might make a difference to how easily they can be caught, possibly they can retreat further and the soft nature of the mud may give them advanced warning of approaching webbed feet!

This drain through the mud shows the extra depth,
the normal level is the bottom of the drain

This is a shot of the mud just below the sea wall
You can see the tips of the sand mason worm tubes, but only just

This is the same area of mud on 19 July last year

Whatever the cause, there were only 4 Mediterranean gulls on the beach this evening and neither they or the resting BHGs were trying to feed on sand mason worms,

Heysham skear - low water 16:30

Great Crested Grebe 1

Little Egret 4

Curlew c60

Turnstone 7 on mid skear plus 14 on inner skear

Redshank 150+ the largest flock was 140 and there were smaller flocks and individuals around

Knot 1 in partial summer plumage with largest flock of Redshank.

Again the Redshank and Kont headed off east.

Whenever I meet someone who routinely reads these posts they tend to comment as to how they find the more unusual stuff the most interesting, and "green jelly blobs" are often quoted as an example (see post 6/03/21 MD).

As I approached the very edge of the inner skear today I came across this red blob of jelly.

It wasn't obvious what it was so I lifted it out for a closer look

The water was extremely warm, it was only a shallow pool and probably not been covered by the sea for a couple of days. When I had it out it was obvious that it was a Beadlet Anemone, it had been upside down in the water. I carried it back to a deeper pool further out, it repaid the jesture by sticking to my hand like a leach.

Beadlet Anemone 

I found a deeper pool with moving water, even that was warm, but not as hot as the shallow pool. I placed the anemone on the smoothest stone I could find, it isn't as level as it looks on this picture, probably about a 20 degree incline. Even so, I was disappointed when it "fell over". The tiny crab just to the top left of the anemone as it fell over, had a lucky escape!

So I replaced it in the bottom corner of the same stone, this time success. Its tentacles opened immediately and it appeared to be fine, although not yet securely anchored.