Sanderling still the main interest

Light WSW wind. Plenty of sunshine, but cool out of the sun.

Just my stuff so far (MD)

Wheatear 2 along Ocean Edge foreshore plus 1 on saltmarsh 

Heysham skear - ebbing tide this evening

Eider 46

Female and male Eider

Great Crested Grebe 6 (3x2)

Red-breasted Merganser 3 - this clip shows the merganser flying off, but also an indication of the wealth of birdlife on the skear.

Little Egret 7

Curlew 8

Turnstone 4

Dunlin 4

Sanderling 12 (2x2 + 8) very flighty this evening and the 8 flew off west.

This Herring gull has a Pipefish, probably a Greater Pipefish. 

Herring gull with Pipefish

Pipefish are effectively a straight seahorse, both are very closely related. Like a Seahorse, it is the Pipefish male that carries the eggs and young. This is either a female or a male with an empty pouch. Quite a large specimen, I expect it has died and washed ashore, rather than the Herring gull catching it, although, they are not uncommon in the bay. Anyway it wasn't prepared to share it.