Still becalmed

Another almost breathless day with just a slight east breeze. The clouds were quite low again.

Heysham skear - low water 12:00

I checked at low water (MD), although the tide doesn't go out so far on these neap tides.

Great Crested Grebe 9

Red-breasted Merganser 4

Eider 7

Shag 1 immature on Conger Rock on the ebbing tide.

Little Egret 6

Knot c150

Dunlin 20

Common Snipe 3

There was a small duck, tantalisingly distant. I couldn't make out any features but suspected it may be a Teal. I waited till the tide started coming in hoping it would bring it closer. It did drift in, but further out. Fortunately my shots were just good enough to confirm a female Teal, when viewed on large screen and zoomed in. Not much to see on this clip, but if you've ever wondered about the size comparison of a Great Crested Grebe and a Teal (and who hasn't!) here you are.

A little later when Pete checked:

Pale-bellied Brent 2 flew in from the south

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

Just a brief check of the two main ponds.

Tufted duck now back to 3 males plus a female

Gadwall 24, but predominantly male. Finding a mate is becoming more intense, the time for eye rolling is over (see posts 6th and 7th November), it's  now time for action! 

Female Gadwall surrounded by suitors, most unwelcome!

Other wildfowl remains unchanged. No warblers heard.