Tuesday 13 September 2022

Pinkfoot start to return

Almost calm in the morning the very light north breeze freshened slightly as it shifted to NW. Sunshine for most of the day.

Heysham skear - low water 08:45 (MD)
Pink-Footed Goose 30 south at 08:35, I expected others to follow, but that was it!
Shag 1 x 2nd calendar year feeding
Great Crested Grebe 3
Red-breasted Merganser 8 (1, 2 & 5)
Grey Heron 1
Little Egret 6
This was strange. This gull dropped from the sky as if its wing was broken and flayed in the water. The other gulls thought it was strange too as they all took to the air above it. No sign of them being spooked by a predator, they just seemed curious. The large splash is from a dropped mussel, I think the smaller splashes are just "droppings". I couldn't see if the gull recovered, but the others quickly returned to their feeding.

Half Moon Bay 
Janet saw two Small Copper
Small Copper, looking very fresh

South shore  - high water 14:10 (MD)
Rock Pipit 5 on Red Nab
Wheatear 5 along foreshore 
Skylark 1 grounded on Ocean Edge playing field
Skylark 
It seemed to be finding plenty to eat

Linnet 15 on saltmarsh 
Lapwing 45 on saltmarsh 
Redshank c100 roosting on the eastern side of the saltmarsh till flushed south by tide
Curlew Sandpiper 1 juvenile in association with the Redshank 
Curlew Sandpiper, unfortunately with the bright sunlight behind it
This was a little later, but presumably the same bird, Curlew Sandpiper showing its white rump
Curlew Sandpiper (left of centre) with Redshank 
Ringed Plover 7, this one was particularly confiding 
Ringed Plover
There were dragonflies around the saltmarsh.
Common Darter 2 female
Migrant Hawker 1 female and 1 male
Female Migrant Hawker