Much of the same, but signs of change

A fresh SW wind, mainly high cloud and sunny spells till mid afternoon then a few showers.

Heysham Nature Reserve (MD)

It was a cold wind this morning, so a short walk around this sheltered reserve was pleasant. Plenty going on although just the regular residents.

There were almost as many mammals on view as birds, rabbits everywhere, looked like they were looking for more than food! A couple of Grey Squirrels and a Roe Deer, female I think.

Bullfinch 4

Goldfinch 10+

A mixed tit feeding flock passed through the alder copse. You only get a glimpse of each as they move through the scrub quickly, so I strung four clips together, Long-Tailed, Blue, Coal and Great Tits. Note the Long-Tailed and Blue Tits are ringed:

In contrast to the camaraderie of feeding flocks, this Blue Tit on Middleton yesterday seemed to be defining its territory boundaries.

Talking of territories, this Robin wasn't happy as the Tits passed through. Once again, it reacts to the click of my camera as I alter focus. Although this is an obvious click on the video, in reality it is very quiet. It must just be the right (or wrong) pitch for small birds hearing range. 

Sparrowhawk 1

Mallard 2

Moorhen 3

North shore inner skear

These very low neap tides only just uncover part of the inner skear.

Pale-bellied Brent goose 45 - originally they were still feeding on broken weed on the water line, but as the tide turned they all moved to the rocks out from the children's play area. This is a nice clip of two on the water, you can see the clumps of weed washing in, but this is mainly wrack and ignored. They seek out the broken pieces of sea lettuce.

Eider c80

Waders were mainly Oystercatcher, but also Knot, Redshank, Turnstone, Curlew and Dunlin.

Dunlin, blending nicely into the background 

This 2nd winter Herring gull has a small crab. It has done very well finding one on the shore this time of year. After "disarming" the crab, it is swallowed whole. Also, Dunlin, Redshank and Oystercatcher.

Just out of the recording area, Craig saw the Sandylands Black Redstart.