Tuesday, 31 May 2022

Hobby and Canada Goose moult migration begins

The lightish winds swung round from NE in morning to NW by evening. Some heavy showers and sunny spells.

Hobby - adult low over Heysham Skear 0715 then climbed NW - thanks to David Kaye for this record

Middleton Nature Reserve 
Little grebe - Janet spotted an adult with two chicks on the main pond, she could only managed some distant shots as she was exercising a dog.
Adult Little Grebe (Dabchick)

Dabchick chicks

Rock Pipits - I went to check how the Near Naze and Half Moon birds are doing. The answer is, I'm not sure! (MD)
Near Naze - just one bird seen feeding, I saw it fly to a potential nest site, but couldn't see if it was carrying food.
Half Moon Bay - two birds feeding among the rocks near the cafe slipway. Both headed off over the sloping wall towards the industrial buildings, but again I failed to see if they were carrying food, but I suspect they were.
No sign of any birds near the rocks on the north edge of Half Moon Bay

House Sparrows rarely get a mention, largely as there are not huge numbers within the recording 
area, but there are colonies on both sides of Half Moon Bay. Newly fledged birds abound.

Canada Goose - 36 flew north low over the old heliport. The first record this year of their northward moult migration. No risk of not hearing these birds!

Heysham skear - low water 19:20 (MD)
As yesterday I went down 2 hours before low water, fortunately this coincided with a heavy shower ending.
Eider 13
Great Crested Grebe 5
Red-breasted Merganser 3 (pair plus a female) - this is the lone female, having a stretch, she flew off to the north not long after this.

Little Egret 9 plus Heron 1 - all shrimping again
Curlew 2
Whimbrel 1
Sanderling 20 - still in individual groups (7, 2 and 5 along north side. 4 and 2 along the south side).