A Grey Wagtail tale

An overnight frost followed by a sunny and virtually calm day.

South shore 

I just checked from Red Nab to No.2 outflow on the rising tide (MD). Timed to catch the Brent flying to Red Nab.

Pale-bellied Brent goose 15 - arrived at 09:45 just as the tide had reached Red Nab.

Pink-Footed goose c200 in several smallish skeins north,  mainly overland to the east.

Shelduck 12

Wigeon 150+

Grey Heron 1

Little Egret 3

Immature Little Egret, still with much yellow on its legs.

Little Gull 1 adult - was feeding on No.2 outflow (it's not easy keeping them in focus when they fly towards you!)

Some nice shots from Red Nab by Chris Penrice:

Turnstone 

Curlew and Oystercatcher 

Some of the, distant, Pale-bellied Brent Geese

Song Thrush at Heysham Nature Reserve

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

I just checked the "no swimming" pond on my way home.

Mute 2 adult plus 2 immature 

Moorhen 2

Teal 5 (1 female)

Gadwall 25

It was good seeing the Mute feeding on the deeper weed (as they have evolved to do) rather than waiting for hand outs at the main pond.

There were a few thrushes moving between the trees, at least:

Redwing 5

Blackbird 4

Song Thrush 1 

Sparrowhawk 1

Imperial Road (MD)

I just had a quick stop off this afternoon (no sign of the foxes)

Mute Swan 2 adult

Little Egret 5

This Wren was defending its patch of Reedmace
It is just preparing to fly in this shot.

This colour ringed Grey Wagtail is a star! See sidebar for scheme details.

It was ringed as a 1st winter bird at Middleton Nature Reserve 14/09/19 and was recorded that winter in Yeovil Somerset - 345km south from where it was ringed.

In the spring of 2020 it was seen as a breeding male at Teviot Bridge Roxburgh - 159km NE of where it was ringed and 504km north of its wintering grounds.

It has returned and been seen at Yeovil each winter since (the above picture is from Yeovil this week).

If it returned to Roxburgh in 2021 it didn't breed in the same spot, but in 2022 it was again seen breeding at Teviot Bridge.