Little Gull hangs around

Very strong WNW wind in the morning eased during the day. A few showers early on but dry and sunny for much of the day.

Redshank - Pete and Jean didn't locate a single bird during yesterday's WeBS count, covering the shoreline from Sunnyslopes Groyne to Ocean Edge. The storm must have driven them inland. Anyone know where to?

Heliport wall

Two interesting pictures from Howard:

First Knot to display partial summer plumage

But they didn't hang around for long,
 this Sparrowhawk cleared everything again.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

There is a change with the Mute. All the remaining 7 immature birds were on the main pond, with 3 adult, the other 3 adult now on the "no swimming" pond

Mallard 2 pair on "no swimming" pond

No other ducks or Coot seen.

Moorhen 4

Little grebe 1

South shore 

Kevin checked it out this afternoon, quite early in the ebbing tide:

Pale-bellied Brent goose 20+

Wigeon c200

Kittiwake 1 adult

Little Gull 1 adult

Both the above on No.2 outflow.

Kittiwake 

Black-Headed Gull left with Kittiwake right

Little Gull

I arrived not long after Kevin had left, but didn't see either of the above on No.2 outflow. I did see an adult Kittiwake heading south from No.1 outflow. Then on the return leg, I just managed to catch the Little Gull flying down No.2 outflow. The sun was low and bright, making this clip over exposed. Resulting in the gull, particularly its underwings, looking paler than they actually were.

Rock Pipits 4  - still no sign on the lighthouse ringed bird

Finally, I couldn't decide what this was, perched on the guy ropes for the large anemometer. I eventually realised that it was a Carrion Crow, with what looks like an egg (or a very degraded golf ball). If it was an egg, it looked a bit battered so possibly hard boiled? So, the bird identified, but the object not, I'll leave it for you to decide.