What a difference a day makes

Very light and variable breeze, predominantly from the north in the morning, NW by evening. The day alternated between bright sunshine and thick cloud, but it managed to remain dry.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Report by Jean:

Despite not seeing or hearing Meadow Pipits overhead, 15 were caught and ringed. Chiffchaff dominated the warbler catch No retraps today:

Grey Wagtail 3

Meadow Pipit 15

Chiffchaff 10

Blackcap 1

Robin 5

Goldcrest 2

Wren 1

Dunnock 1

Blue Tit 1

Vis:

Pink-footed Goose 352 in 6 flocks mainly N

Grey Wagtail 9

Cormorant 7 south

Swallow 7

Meadow Pipit 17+

Chaffinch 1

Linnet 2 

Mediterranean Gull 1 adult

Magpie 2

A Cetti’s Warbler wandered noisily round the eastern marsh. 

Heysham skear - low water 12:50 (MD)

This was a test walk really, low water at 3.4m barely uncovers the inner skear, so no distance to walk.

Eider 4 (2males)

Red-breasted Merganser 10 (4 & 6)

Shag 1 x 2nd calendar year 

2cy Shag with Lesser Black-Backed gull

Waders: Oystercatcher, Curlew, Redshank and Turnstone plus

Knot 52 in one flock, showing well in good light, unfortunately none were ringed

Knot with the South Lakes for a backdrop

Knot

South shore  - high water 19:00 (MD)

Completely different to yesterday, not least as I was looking forward to my evening walk. I was feeling much better today perhaps I was just suffering from a touch of old age!

But, despite my enthusiasm, there was little to see, unfortunately these tides are so low all the exposed mud was dry. It's strange that I walked twice as far to get to the high water line this evening, than I did to get to the low water line on the north side this morning!

Dunlin - there was a flock feeding along the waterline as I was walking out, but they quickly moved on as the tide reached the dry mud. I probably would have been better going out earlier. Apart from those, just these two resting in the brief evening sunshine.

Dunlin

The only other waders were: Oystercatcher, Curlew and Redshank plus

Bar-Tailed Godwit 4

Bar-Tailed Godwit, also resting in the late sun

Shelduck 3 flying south

Wheatear 1 on foreshore 

It was a nice evening!