A better variety

The wind started from the east then swung round to south by lunchtime. Light showers in the morning then more prolonged rain started just after lunch.

Report from Pete:

Sandwich Tern 5 x 1st calendar year resting on shore out from Ocean Edge

Three of the Sandwich Terns - not a great shot, but shows location.

Wheatear 7 quickly moving through Ocean Edge foreshore 

Mediterranean gulls 16 including 2 x 1st calendar year

Shag 1 x 2nd calendar year 

A fall of warblers included 10 Willow Warbler in the brambles by litter bin in Heysham Nature Reserve car park.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

This from Janet

A juvenile Jay was hopping about on the path at Middleton NR, I thought at first it couldn't fly but it did just manage to get onto the branch of a tree.

South shore (MD)

I left it till lunchtime as I wanted to watch the beach next to jetty become exposed.

Wheatear 1 almost certainly additional to Pete's, this one too, quickly moving through

Rock Pipit 1

Willow warbler 2 and Common Whitethroat 1 seen in Nature Park

Common Sandpiper 1 flew out of the harbour then along north wall.

Mediterranean gulls

Even though it was 12:30 and 4 hours after high tide, the beach by the jetty was just becoming exposed for the first time in daylight today. There were 10 adult Meds waiting on the rocks at the edge of the beach, eventually there were 12 adult, 1 x 2nd calendar year and 1 x 1st calendar year. I say "eventually" it was only 12:45 but the rain had started lashing down.

2nd calendar year Mediterranean gull now in 2nd winter plumage 

These are some of the Meds and a few Black Headed-gulls just below the sea wall

The water only moves very slowly on these neap tides, the gulls were catching plenty of Sandmason worms, but only when there was some water covering them. There were three ringed birds today, two just metal (one below and one above the knee). The third was a white darvic, a regular visitor, originally ringed in Holland in 2010. This is the first occasion it has been seen here this year, let's hope it has been seen elsewhere since its last visit. Here it is catching a worm and avoiding Oystercatchers.

Just a footnote from yesterday - it sounds like the Alder Leaf beetle has transformed its status from extinction to "pest" - see Rob's comment on yesterday's post.