A fresh SW wind moved to west after lunch. Plenty of sunshine with just the odd light shower.
Seawatch report by Jean:
Seawatch from the North Harbour Wall
06:30-08:30 (high tide at 08:27hrs)
SW F4, cloudy
A bit slow this morning with birds rather distant. The wind was a few degrees more southerly than forecast.
Pomarine Skua - 1 into Bay at 07:35
Arctic Skua - 1 dark morph in at 08:12
Gannet - 2 into Bay, 6 out
Common Scoter - 8 in, 25 out
Grey Plover - 22 out
Small waders - 5 in, 30 out
Guillemot - 3 out
Razorbill - 3 in
Auk sp- 11 in, 3 out
Arctic Tern - 5 in
Goosander - 1 out
Red Nab
Pink-footed Goose - 2
Wooden jetty
Shag - 1
Middleton Nature Reserve
Janet had a look in the morning
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| The "no swimming" pond female Mute Swan with 9 cygnets |
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| Small Heath - first of the year |
I had a look in the afternoon (MD)
The two adult mute from the main pond had gone. Both the male and female with their chicks were back on the "no swimming" pond, the aggressive male looking the dutiful father today.
He wasn't the only attentive father, these two Coot were feeding 5 chicks. Presumably Mum and Dad, but not necessarily. Coot parents independently feed "half" of the chicks, so in theory, these could be from two different broods.
Warblers included:
Cetti's Warbler
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Sedge Warbler
The Orchids are starting to emerge
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| Early Purple Orchid (I think MD) |
This stand of flowers in the NW corner of the main pond looks good.
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| A pretty flower, with the less than flattering name....... Bogbean |
