Eider take to dabbling

Very light breezes again moving around the compass, but mainly east in morning and west in afternoon, calm by evening. Sunny in the morning, then largely overcast, with heavy shower late evening.

Heysham skear (MD)

Canada goose 6 + 4 north

Canada geese single file, low and silent - easily missed.

This clip is the 4, it is just to show how low they were , if I hadn't have seen them first, I wouldn't have known what the dark wings were appearing over the sandbar.

N.B. Pete has started a thread on the LDBWS website to try and capture all this year's Canada Goose moult migration. If you see any in or out of the Observatory recording area please either let me or Pete know, or add to the LDBWS thread - thanks

Greylag Goose 2 north - nether low or silent!

Greylag Geese 

Eider 54 - a marked increase of late and the additional birds mainly female. My first thought was young families, but I thought, and Pete confirmed that it is too early. So either failed or non breeding birds.

The ratio of male to female birds was completely reversed. This male suddenly finds himself surrounded by 10 females.

This small group were dabbling for gutweed, can't say I've seen them do that before.

Gutweed here is an easy option, some of it is 1m long and will float just below the
surface when the tide is slack (how the Brent would love it!)

Great Crested Grebe 6

Red-breasted Merganser 3

Little Egret 3 

Heron 2

Shag 1 feeding

The only waders this morning were the Oystercatchers plus single Dunlin and Ringed Plover

I had a very brief check again this evening as the inner skear was becoming exposed.

Sanderling 7 - 5 came in off and joined 2 already feeding

South Shore (KE)

Canada goose 30 south over the lighthouse - although flying out they will likely be northward bound (MD)

Near the harbour entrance:

Female Linnet collecting nest material.

Rock Pipit displaying distraction behaviour near the nest.

I found this lovely patch of Bee Orchids in the landscaped garden, near the pond. I hope they don't get picked!

Bee Orchids 

Middleton Nature Reserve (JP)

Two Heron on main pond

Little grebe with chicks on main pond

Burnet Companion moths numerous 

Burnet Companion moth