Blue skies and a bluer sea

Another dry and mainly sunny day with a light west wind.

South shore (MD)

A early morning check on the ebbing tide.

Mediterranean Gulls 6 - 3 adult plus 3 juvenile on the beach next to the wooden jetty, not long after it became exposed.

Adult Med waiting for the tide to expose the beach near the wooden jetty.
The blue sky and calm conditions made the sea particularly blue this morning

This is one of the juveniles

The SeaTruck was just leaving the harbour. The main factor for the Sandmason worms to favour this beach is that it is well protected on three sides and it is therefore stable. But I also feel that the regular gentle washes from the ships wakes help them to flourish by providing a source of nutrients. This clip shows the effect of the wake when the tide is out, but the same inrush of water and sediments occurs when the tide already covers the beach.

This green darvic ringed Oystercatcher was on the beach near Red Nab.
Part of a Norwegian ringing scheme - details awaited

Linnet 15 between lighthouse and waterfall plus 4 on saltmarsh 

There are 8 Linnet in this shot by the lighthouse 

Also on the saltmarsh 

Greenfinch 2

Pied Wagtail 3

Wheatear 3 -  2 clearly juvenile 

Wheatear with Pied Wagtail 

Juvenile Wheatear

Grey Seal 1 on seaward side of No.1 outflow.

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

Not a lot of birds:

Great Spotted Woodpecker 1

Jay 1

Swallow 6 feeding

Buzzard 1

Buzzard

There has been some excellent landscape work completed. 

This new dyke now follows the line of the path from the north entrance.
Not only has it provided a new water course, the spoil has raised the path
to a higher level. The previous path became a quagmire in winter 

Along the new dyke there were, 2 male Emperor, 3 male Common Darter and  male Black-Tailed Skimmer patrolling. Also 1 Brown Hawker ovipositoring.

Male Emperor 

The raised bog area was less productive today. When I last checked we were in the hot dry spell and the peat pools were all but dried up. Today they were all but overflowing! Just Common Darters and Emperors seen. No sign of Black Darters.

Bog Hoverfly

It's a lovely and generally quiet reserve and well worth a visit.