The breeze started off from the north before drifting to NNW then WNW. Some high cloud, but plenty of sunshine.
Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)
Did a full circuit of the east side of the reserve today.
Mute Swan 2 breeding pairs plus a single adult
Coot 5
Moorhen 5
Teal 2
Gadwall 6
Mallard 8
Little grebe 2 trilling on the main pond plus at least one on "no swimming" pond
Osprey 1 - 10:05 - it flew low in a line from the SE corner of the golf course towards Heysham Nature Reserve. I was along the track to the east of the golf course, surrounded by trees. I could hear the gulls creating and knew it must be a raptor, so I moved into a more open area and got my camera ready. Fortunately, its flight line gave me a good, but short view.
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| A couple of stills from the above clip. It didn't appear to be a ringed bird. |
A little later I kept hearing a "raptor" calling. But the gulls weren't interested, only the corvids were agitated. Turned out it was a Jay. Much less harsh than their normal screams, not a call I'd heard from them before. I had to check with Pete who advised "a territorial Jay"
Warblers:
Cetti's warbler 2 singing males. The "no swimming" pond bird plus another in the SW corner of the main pond. The marsh birds not heard.
Blackcap 3 singing males
Chiffchaff several
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| One of today's Chiffchaffs. Presumably the dark staining on its face the result of feeding on nectar or pollen on passage. |
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| Male Small White was the only butterfly seen |
South shore, towards high water(Alan Physick and MD)
Three dredgers in operation. No sign of the Shag or birds out from the harbour.
No sign of any Brent either, but they do not always come to the south side on these low neap tides.
Shelduck 33
Rock Pipit 2
Wheatear 2 on eastern side of saltmarsh
