Another ring to be read

NW to west winds, mainly overcast with some hazy sun later in the afternoon 

South shore

I had a look mid morning (MD)

Grey Seal 1 female near No.1 outflow

Rock pipit 1 Red Nab and 1 carrying food near lighthouse 

Mediterranean gulls 14 minimum - there were 5 adult plus 3 x 2nd calendar year feeding along the tideline on beach next to wooden jetty. It seems at the moment, they can only catch the Sandmason worms when they are underwater. Hopefully that will change and allow them to feed all over the beach. 2 x 2cy feeding on the seaward end of No.1 outflow may have been duplication.

These are today's birds on the waterline 

Pete checked later from Ocean Edge and managed 14. Most in the outer SW corner of Red Nab and the seaward end of No.1 outflow, but not including any that may still have been on the beach next to jetty. One of the Red Nab adults had a yellow darvic ring on right leg, but much too distant to read. Hopefully it will hang around.

Heysham skear - low water 13:20 (MD)

Just a speculative check, I wasn't expecting much, and wasn't disappointed!

Eider 3 females together

Little Egret 3

The only waders were Oystercatcher and Curlew

Still a couple of hundred Herring gulls, but mainly resting or breaking large mussels, as were a handful of Lesser Black-backed gulls.

c20 Black Headed gulls and the regular Mediterranean gull - not quite as raggedy as the last time I saw it, but still not likely to win any grooming competitions!

Black-Headed gull and Mediterranean gull

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

I just did a short circuit of the area were Kevin and myself saw the Clouded Yellow yesterday. No sign today but plenty of interest 

Mute Swan 2 + 7 cygnets now on the "no swimming" pond.

Gadwall 1 female with 2 chicks also on "no swimming" pond, but being harassed by the male swan. Fortunately, there is plenty of tree cover over the water to shelter behind.

Mallard 7 male 2 female one with 2 young

Little grebe 3 large juvenile 

Stock Dove 2

Cetti's Warbler - the "no swimming " pond male singing regularly 

Blackcap 1 near lower carpark

Sedge Warbler singing again in the reed bed near main pond peninsula 

Chiffchaff 2

Common Whitethroat 1

No Willow Warbler heard today

Dragonflies 

Common Darter - everywhere 

Black-Tailed Skimmers  - main pond

Emperor - just one seen

Butterflies in order of abundance 

Gatekeeper 

Meadow Brown 

Ringlet

Large Skipper 

Small Skipper

Small White 3

Summer generation female Small White with particularly pronounced wing "spots"

Not bad for a 10 minute circuit!