Jack Snipe turn up

A fresher SW wind. Overcast but mainly dry, just occasional drizzle 

Heliport 

First a couple of nice shots that Howard took yesterday.

Rock Pipit on the heliport sloping wall

Curlew dismembering a shore crab before swallowing it "whole"

The Knot were more active today and Howard and Richard managed to identify 11 birds

One of today's colour ringed Knot

Red Nab to Saltmarsh - high water 11:15 (MD)

No Brent geese seen this morning, but still lots of Wigeon and c30 Shelduck

Red-breasted Merganser 1 female 

Lapwing 14 on saltmarsh 

Also, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Redshank and Turnstone 

Some of the Turnstone - sometimes it hardly seems worthwhile taking "colour" photographs!

Rock Pipit 4 - 1 on Red Nab plus 1 + 2 together on the saltmarsh 

Reed Bunting 3 on saltmarsh 

Today's high tide at 9.3m easily covered the saltmarsh, as would the overnight tide. The snipe tend to get "fed up" of being flushed and numbers normally reduce as the spring tides progress. Even so, reasonable numbers again today.

Common Snipe 76 flushed from saltmarsh by the rising tide......then

Jack Snipe 4 - these flew in together from the south, probably flushed from the line of marsh grass now stretching along the shore between the rocky outcrop and Potts Corner. They made to land on what little was left of the saltmarsh. 1 did land, but the others turned round and headed for Middleton Nature Reserve.

Just out of the recording area - Heysham Moss Nature Reserve (MD)

This reserve is along the eastern boundary of the recording area, but always worth a visit, although I didn't have very much time today

Barn Owl 1 - a dog walker with a couple of dogs was approaching, I think they may have flushed it. 

Barn Owl

This clip isn't great, I was trying to get to higher ground for a better view. The bark towards the end is one of the approaching dogs.

I expect its hunting sorties will take it within the recording area. One to watch out for.