Whooping waifs

A very light east wind till late morning, then it switched to the west. A sunny morning after a brief shower. Overcast, but still warm in the afternoon.

South shore (MD)

A morning check from high water.

The saltmarsh was busy with passerines:

Linnet 100+

Goldfinch 20

Greenfinch 15

Reed Bunting 2

Meadow Pipit 4

Rock Pipit 1 (5 in total over the walk)

Most of the Linnet were feeding on the east side of the saltmarsh where the Samphire is densest. But a few were feeding on the more isolated plants on the west side.

The sun was low and bright, making for some vivid colours

Meadow Pipits

Reed Bunting 

Whooper Swan 4 immature flying west across the bay. It is unusual to see young birds without adults, they must have become separated from the flock they were with. Not very clear shots of the birds, but despite a ships horn and barking dogs, you can still make out their constant honking until they were quite distant.

Immature Whooper Swan

Wigeon 82 returned to Red Nab after being flushed by visitors 

No sign of the Red-Throated diver this morning.

Heysham skear - low water 14:00 (MD)

Eider 42 including flocks of 16 and 5 flying low to the south

Eider

Great Crested Grebe 5

Red-breasted Merganser 2

Little Egret 11 - they were back to feeding in the sea, but the water is still too clear for shrimps, they were probably finding small flatfish.

Oystercatcher 600

Knot 400 - one still partially in summer plumage 

Knot

Dunlin 1

Curlew 35

Redshank 100

Turnstone 60

This Great Black-Backed gull has found a flounder and is being watched closely by a Carrion Crow.

Within a minute there were seven Carrion Crows.