Easy pickings and another Osprey

Sunshine with heavy showers, particularly in the morning. A west wind.

South Shore (MD)

I walked along the foreshore and sea wall in the morning.

Wheatear 2

A particularly rufous 1st winter Wheatear

Rock Pipit 2 - foreshore and Red Nab

Linnet 5 - foreshore 3 lighthouse 2

The forecast was for light rain showers. I suppose by volume of water over the day the rain was "light". I'd set off in bright sunshine and waterproof leggings were a last minute decision. A good one! I could see the rain approaching while I was on the foreshore. Foreboding weather conditions rarely look so when photographed, but this is a reasonable representation.

I was walking towards the weather, and the weather was heading towards me.....
.....we met half way along the wall. There is no definition of "light" that would describe the subsequent rain!

Fortunately it was easing as I reached the end of the wall. The beach by the jetty was just becoming exposed by the tide. Only 6 Mediterranean gulls turned up, along with Black-Headed Gulls, Little Egret, Curlew and Redshank. All were catching Sandmason worms, although I didn't actually see the Egret catch any.  This compilation shows the differing techniques, I did feel that the Curlew was "cheating" a little.

Robin 1 grounded by lighthouse

I returned early evening towards high water

Mediterranean gulls 15 adult on Red Nab including one white ringed bird.

Curlew c300 on the south shore

Whimbrel 1 flew from Red Nab

Oystercatcher c500

Redshank 120 on Red Nab

Turnstone 4 on Red Nab

Knot 20 on tideline 

Dunlin 60 on tideline

Lapwing 4 on saltmarsh 

Sanderling 1 feeding amongst the Oystercatcher on the tideline, but only briefly 

Sandwich Tern 1 resting with c200 Black-Headed Gulls just south of the saltmarsh 

Sandwich Tern

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

I called in on my way home mid morning, the heavy shower had eased a while earlier, but the rain had only just stopped and the clouds were clearing.

Osprey 1 - it flew north over the main pond and was obviously checking for any fish. But the gulls were agitated and it continued north

Osprey, checking out the main pond

Main Pond

Tufted duck 1 (the odd) female

Coot 8 only 2 obviously immature 

Only 1 Moorhen on "no swimming" pond.

By this time the sun was out and the insects were just beginning to move

Common Darter 1 male

Common Blue Damselfly 1 male

Common Blue Damselfly

Common Emerald Damselfly 

Common Emerald Damselfly

Pete Crooks had a stroll around the village in the afternoon.

2 Greenshank flew south over Heysham Village (first of the autumn - they are not common here)

1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Small Copper at St Peters Church

1 Painted Lady on the footpath between Knowleys Road and Heysham Village Bay.