I only had time for one quick check of the skear late afternoon, and so far, no reports from elsewhere (MD).
Heysham skear - low water 16:15
Checked around 15:00
Pale-bellied Brent goose 20. It was quiet on the shore today and when I started the Brent were already moving up the freshwater run off where the sea lettuce grows. This clip is actually looking back from the corner where they are normally found at this stage of the ebbing tide. It follows the line of the run off to the lead birds who were already some way up the shore.
When I returned 30 minutes later, they were even closer to the sea wall. I thought the rocks where they are feeding here only held gut weed, I'll have a look when they are not there. I couldn't decide if they were moving up the beach, just because they weren't being disturbed or whether the sea lettuce along the drain is too depleted.
Red-breasted Merganser 6
No Great Crested Grebe seen, but it was choppy
Little Egret 10
Knot 1,000+ actively feeding today
No sign of the Shag, so much for predictions! (Although feeding opportunities at the end of the day always depend on how successful the rest of the day has been).
But I like this shot of a Cormorant on conger
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| Cormorant on conger rock with the harbour lighthouse in the background |
