A fresh SSE wind shifted to SSW at lunchtime, some sunshine but heavy showers.
South shore
I went down to watch the tide cover the saltmarsh (MD)
Mediterranean gull 1 adult on Red Nab
Wigeon 25 on Red Nab, later 60 out from saltmarsh
Linnet 100+ on saltmarsh
 |
| Some of the saltmarsh Linnet |
Common Snipe 27 flushed when tide first reached the saltmarsh
 |
| Common Snipe |
Jack Snipe 1 - flushed by a family having a walk around the saltmarsh edge
By this time the tide had just started to cover the saltmarsh, but unlike yesterday's good timing, today the timing was rubbish. I'd set off in bright sunshine with no waterproofs, an ominous black cloud first blocked out the sun then brought down the rain. I left much too early to complete a full Jack Snipe survey.
Another venture in the afternoon was also thwarted by the rain. I didn't get past the Nature Park. Fortunately Kevin had just been along the wall and confirmed nothing of note on the outflows.
There was a mixed tit (mainly Long-Tailed) flock feeding near the small anemometer. This also contained at least 2 Goldcrest and 1 Chiffchaff (Kevin had heard one singing earlier).
This LTT was feeding in the leaf litter, or at least trying to feed, it certainly was watching something.
Red Admiral 1
Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)
Just a check of the two main ponds
Mute Swan pair plus 7 cygnets
Mallard 6 on main pond (4 male) plus 3 (2 male) flying around
Gadwall 5 (3 male) on "no swimming" pond
Moorhen 5 (1 immature)
 |
| Immature Moorhen |
 |
| Adult Moorhen |
Little grebe 2 (1 on each pond)
 |
| Little Grebe |
Grey Heron 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Kestrel 1
