The breeze started NNE but NW by mid afternoon. Mainly sunny.
Heysham skear - low water 09:45
Great Crested Grebe 10
Eider 6 - the males are now coming out of eclipse. I'm posting this clip of a male preening, not for the Eider, but if you watch behind it at the beginning of the clip, you'll see a fish breaking the water. This is almost certainly a Garfish feeding on Whitebait or Sand Eels. You can't see the fish, but I am familiar with the way they feed. If you are unfamiliar with a Garfish, Google it, they are pretty unique! (MD)
Little Egret 15Grey Heron 2
Oystercatcher c500
Redshank c100
Curlew c50
Whimbrel 1 at least
Dunlin 4
Turnstone 250+ - a large increase in this species, I'm tempted to say 250 more than the regular birds
South shore
An evening check 4 hours after high water.
Mediterranean gull 3 - turned up on the beach as it became exposed - none ringed
Purple Sandpiper 1 - on the sloping wall next to the lighthouse at 18:15. It seemed to be finding plenty to eat, so hopefully will hang around.
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| Purple Sandpiper - this is just a still from the clip, in case you can't view videos. |
The juvenile gulls along the sea wall seem to be developing attitude, I suppose they are now the equivalent of a cocky teen!
This young Herring gull steadfastly refused to move out of my way. I had to walk around it, still it gives a nice opportunity to see the plumage in detail.
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| Juvenile Herring gull |
This juvenile Lesser Black-Backed gull was pestering an adult for food.
It continued pestering when they went on the beach. Finally the adult relented, but the juvenile only wanted the bit that the adult had!
Finally I really like this clip. I've no idea if these two Redshank are juveniles, but their behaviour certainly appears childlike. They reminded me of a couple of kids visiting the seaside for the first time, and possibly they were (MD).
