A few more Meds today

Fresh west wind all day, overcast with some showers but some sunny spells in the afternoon.

Report from Pete:

Mediterranean gulls 14 on Red Nab, including 1cy and 2cy until flushed by a dog

Red-Throated Diver one raised off sea and flew out

Pintail flock of 6 flew high to south

South shore (MD)

I managed two checks today, morning low water and afternoon high water.

Mediterranean gulls 8 adult on the beach near the wooden jetty this morning, the only ringed bird being metal ringed only.

Adult Mediterranean gull 

1st calendar year - 1 flew out past the wooden jetty in the morning. At least 2 in the afternoon, 1 patrolling the sea wall and 1 on Red Nab

1st calendar year Mediterranean gull along the sea wall

1st calendar year Mediterranean gull on Red Nab

2nd calendar year 1 on Red Nab at high water

2nd calendar year Mediterranean gull 

Eider 1 male in harbour mouth

Shelduck 2

Rock Pipits 4

Skylark I resting behind Ocean Edge foreshore (both visits)

Skylark 

Linnet 25 on saltmarsh 

Kestrel 1 male over saltmarsh 

Male Kestrel 

The reason I went this morning, was to see if the colour ringed Grey Wagtail was still about. Sure enough it was on the newt pond in the Nature Park again. This time feeding and finding plenty to eat. This picture is a still from early in the clip below. It has some form of insect larvae.

Not the most exotic of records, it was ringed at 09:00 Thursday morning at Heysham Nature Reserve. So it has traveled 800m south in two days. But even this information is of value, it will be interesting to see if it hangs around.

Jean advises that we’ve ringed 110 Grey Wagtails so far this year since 15/8. All young birds, no adults so far.

Pete has just received another sighting for this more traveled bird ringed in 2019

This shot from winter 2021, see history below

Footnote: As from Monday, the car park at Half Moon Bay is changing from free to "pay at the machine". I expect the surrounding lanes will become congested with parked cars