Sunday 9 October 2022

Phalarope lingers

A cool SSE to SE wind all day. Dry with a few sunny spells till 18:00 when steady rain started.

Pete Crooks relocated the Grey Phalarope along the far side of the harbour early morning, looking from the lighthouse on the south wall. 
I checked the location identified by Pete from the end of the single track road past the ferry terminal (MD). It was showing well but distant. No chance of a decent photograph so I just took this clip of it feeding then panned out to show location.
The above clip was just after low water. I checked again towards high water, hoping it may have moved closer, but it was feeding in the same area, just further up the wall.
The last reported sighting today was 17:30

There were lots of gulls on the waterfall plus a Shag when I arrived this morning.
Shag, with the feeding gulls at the waterfall 
I didn't pay it much heed as I was checking for the Phalarope. When I checked the waterfall again, the Shag had moved on, but the Cormorants were catching lots of fish. Every time they surfaced they had a Whitebait. These will have been in the waterfall return from the cooling water intake. This volume of fish is also reflected in the number of gulls feeding on the outflows.
Mediterranean gulls 11 (9 adults, 1 2nd W, 1 1st W) between the outfalls and Red Nab (Pete Crooks)

Just after lunch I had a walk along the sea wall
This adult Mediterranean gull was patrolling the sea wall

Kingfisher 1 - again flew out from the culvert on Red Nab
Little Gull 1 first winter on No.2 outflow. This had also been reported by other birders going to see the Phalarope. I took the best shots that I've ever managed of a Little Gull


Only to be pipped by this wonderful shot by David Kaye
First winter Little Gull - this shot by David 10:00