Sandeels keep the Kittiwake around

A cold night followed by a sunny day. Light north to NE wind.

Janet's ankle must be getting stronger, she had a good walk around today.

Robin along dog walk path

Song Thrush in Nature Park

Female Bullfinch (a male had just left) in Nature Park

Little Egret on Red Nab
A lot of splashing for a small shrimp!

Curlew passing the wooden jetty 

First winter Kittiwake on No.2 outflow

Kittiwakes near the waterfall 

Kittiwake near the waterfall, the adult has a small fish
It looks to be a sandeel, more on this below

I also checked the south wall (MD). It was calm, clear, sunny and full of Kittiwake. At least 58, 30 near the waterfall 10 on No.1 outflow and 18 on No.2 outflow. 

The fish in Janet's picture looks to be a Sandeel, this young Herring Gull just flew down to the waterfall and returned with this fish, which is certainly a Sandeel.

Herring gull with a Sandeel 

Sandeels (and Whitebait which is the other possibility for the fish in Janet's picture) shoal in very large numbers and is almost certainly what is keeping the Kittiwakes on the outflows and in the harbour. With a bit of luck "more interesting" gulls could be attracted. 

Yesterday's young ringed Herring gull was on the platform again, we have received its history now - ringed as a pullus, on Walney Island 21/07/22, yesterday was its first record away from Walney.

Shag 1 immature in the harbour

Several of the Kittiwake are resting along the sea wall when not feeding.

Rock Pipit 2 along the sea wall

Kingfisher 1 on Red Nab

Wigeon 222 waiting in the channels on both sides of No.2 outflow

Shelduck 73 on the mud out from Ocean Edge foreshore 

Shelduck (and drake - front) soaking up the last of the sun's rays

Lapwing 390 flew from somewhere to settle on the shore out from the saltmarsh 

It was very nice looking up to the South Lakes today