Festive felicitations

An east wind all day, mainly rain in the morning but largely dry in the afternoon with occasional weak sunshine.

First this greeting from Howard:

A sentiment shared by everyone in the Observatory team

Jean also sent me this amusing greeting, perhaps not as professional as Howard's but it does have a charm all of its own.

We know that many families are facing another difficult Christmas, hopefully the above will make you smile, as it made me smile (MD)

South shore - high water 14:10

Wigeon 100+

Shelduck only 8 seen

Pale-bellied Brent Goose 24 - these pictures from Kevin

The advantage of feeding on the gut weed in water is that it is easier to crop
as it floats, and by floating the remaining longer strands reveal themselves 

Pale-bellied Brent geese with a male Wigeon

Rock Pipit 2 (one Red Nab and one on saltmarsh)

Reed Bunting 1 on saltmarsh 

Kingfisher 1 on Red Nab, along the freshwater stream from the culvert. I managed some similar shots to yesterday, but opted to post this more enigmatic silhouetted clip (MD)

The Polish ringed Black-Headed gull is still around the harbour 

This is a bit of a puzzle. There were two Pied Wagtail feeding along the harbour wall. They were both constantly picking up something tiny to eat. I can't think what, in summer I would be thinking ants, but not this time of year. I've watched this clip frame by frame and can barely make out a dark "spot" in some of the picks. So no idea what they were finding, but there was lots of it!

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just a check of the two main ponds

Mute Swan still split between the two ponds

Moorhen 6

Coot 1

Shoveler 1 male - back in time for Christmas! This time on the main pond.

Mallard 14

Gadwall 41 (7 on main pond 34 on "no swimming" pond)

Wigeon 2 (pair)

Teal 1 male

Tufted Duck 4 male on "no swimming" pond

The Tufty club - you'll need to be of a certain age for that phrase to resonate!

I think this clip captures all the ducks on the "no swimming" pond, except the Teal

Just out of the recording area:

Black Redstart 1 female/immature - again located by Nick Godden along the same rocks near Grovenor Rd, see post 12/12/21 for more details. Nick's comments today - Still present in the same area 13:45, moving between the rocks and adjacent gardens