North side Barwit numbers increasing

A light, mainly north to NW wind. High cloud with plenty of sunny spells.

South shore - high water 09:50 (MD)

A check from Red Nab to saltmarsh just before high water

Red Nab was almost covered but there were still c100 Wigeon milling around. Most ended up heading towards Potts Corner.

Kingfisher 1 - once again, it flew out of the freshwater culvert and rested on the pond nearest to the wall. These tides will be refilling this pond with seawater and fish.

Nothing along the foreshore but the saltmarsh was busy with passerines again.

Linnet c25

Greenfinch 28 

Greenfinch 

Chaffinch at least one with the Greenfinch 

Reed Bunting 2 at least

Rock Pipit 3

Common Snipe 28

Some of the Common Snipe flushed by the tide from the saltmarsh 

Jack Snipe 1 - the tide wasn't high enough to completely cover the saltmarsh so this was a bonus.

Heysham skear low water 16:40 (MD)

Low water was too late to check but the tide was already quite a way out in the late afternoon (late afternoon! 14:30 - 15:30)

Shag 1 x 2nd calendar year resting on Conger rock 

Shag - its unique profile is recognisable at long range

Eider 12

Great Crested Grebe 3

Red-breasted Merganser 10 - there are five males following this female (Great Crested Grebe in the background)

Little Egret 3

Knot c250

Dunlin just 2

Bar-Tailed Godwit at least 57 - there were a few individuals along the tideline plus this group in the skear corner.

I can't recall seeing this many on the north shore before. I managed to skirt around them without disturbing them. When I looked back a little later they had moved to the tideline halfway between the skear and the green marker post. When I was leaving there was still a small group in the corner plus a few smaller groups along the tideline. Then this flock arrived, not much to see but the light is interesting.