Friday 14 October 2022

Just "ordinary" stuff today......but Hobby yesterday!

 Light west wind, showers on and off all day with some sunny periods 

Hobby heading south mid afternoon yesterday Heysham Head
Thanks to Dave Hawkins

Just my stuff today so far (MD

Heysham skear - low water 09:00
Just a very quick check
Eider 5 (1 male)
Red-breasted Merganser 11
Great Crested Grebe 3
Little Egret 12
Knot c150  - one flock c100 plus a few smaller flocks.

This Curlew has a largish crab. They deal with them as the Eider do. Remove the claws before swallowing (the joints of a crab make it relatively easy to break off a limb, a fact that can often allow the crab to escape when grabbed. They can, and do, grow again). This clip starts with the Curlew having already removed the claws, but the crab must have spread its legs, preventing it being swallowed. It nearly escapes (even without their claws they can still feed, although there options are limited), but next time there is no escape. Eider and Merganser feeding in the background.

Red Nab to saltmarsh - high water 14:30
Mediterranean gull 3 at least on Red Nab
Mediterranean gull 

Wigeon 12 initially on Red Nab then saltmarsh 
Eider 3 female/immature towards outflows 
Kingfisher 1 zipped passed the Red Nab rocks and headed east
Spot the Kingfisher 

Rock Pipit 4 - this one was finding invertebrates amongst a rotting timber (originally from the wooden jetty).
Linnet 80 feeding on saltmarsh. Lifting every time something flew over allowing a count.
Lapwing 27
Common Snipe 3 - the tide wasn't high enough to more than lap against the saltmarsh edges.

Nature Park 
When the sun was out it was quite warm in this sheltered area.
Red Admiral 1
Small White 1
Speckled Wood 3

Common Darter 2