Another freezing night with a light NE breeze. Some sunny periods.
Heysham skear - low water 07:05 (MD)
It made a change getting down at low water in the morning, although the tide was already making and the sea ducks were a long way out.
Eider 54 at least, dark specks beyond them were possibly more.
Great Crested Grebe 5
Red-breasted Merganser 8 - just one feeding close in the other seven drifting in together in the far channel
Dunlin c100 in several small groups
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| Dunlin, the low light reflecting the micro ripples across them |
Knot originally c150 in one small flock, then the moment the sun rose a Peregrine started hunting and I didn't see them again. It's ideal for the Peregrine to hunt with the low sun behind them.
Middleton Nature Reserve
Just a check of the main pond in passing. The Mute are still managing to keep a small area ice free, Black-Headed gulls standing on ice but none ringed
8 Mallard sharing the open patch
Saltmarsh to Red Nab
Again just a quick check
Saltmarsh:
Reed Bunting 5
Greenfinch 3
Blackbird 2
Song Thrush 1
Nothing along foreshore
Kingfisher 1 on Red Nab
A mixed tit flock was passing through the Nature Park. This Blue Tit was already feeding on catkins (spring at last!)
