The freeze continues

 A similar pattern with a heavy overnight frost (-3°C), followed by a sunny day. The NE breeze was light but cold.

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

The Mute Swan pair plus the 8 immature had maintained a patch of clear water at the feeding area of the main pond. They were joined by 10 Mallard and 4 Moorhen.

Another two adult Mute had maintained a much smaller open area on the "no swimming" (definitely no swimming today!) pond.

The Gadwall had moved on, but 6 Teal remained. The only free water on the pond apart from the swans patch were along the margins. This adult Moorhen finds a patch, an immature one close behind.

South shore (MD)

Just a walk along the sea wall today

Pale-bellied Brent goose 12 flew to Red Nab from the north side at 11:30. On these tides they are not flushed from Red Nab at high water, and often stay untill the tide leaves the rocks.

Shelduck 14

Wigeon 248

Bar-Tailed Godwit 10 - one flock flew south

Bar-Tailed Godwit

This Robin was feeding along the sea wall, normally Rock Pipit territory. It seemed to be finding plenty of small "things" to eat. I zoomed in to try and make out what they were, but I still couldn't see anything. Hopefully it was sufficiently nutritious.

These Turnstone were also feeding on tiny items on No.1 outflow, it appeared to be precarious but I don't suppose it is, when you can actually fly.

By way of a change, Janet took this shot of a female Kestrel on the Barrows
It's normally a male seen hunting 

We are now moving away from the spring tides. Howard has been checking the roosting Knots for any that are colour ringed/flagged. It has been hard work. Viewing on the Heliport wall is difficult with overgrown vegetation, plus raptor disturbance has made the flocks flighty. And even when he managed a good view, only a very small proportion are marked, on one tide only 2 birds out of 2,000 were colour marked, and one of those was illegible! Even so perseverance has been rewarded and he has identified several birds over this set of tides. 

This isn't the ornithological equivalent of train spotting. These schemes are designed to identify the movements of the Knot and the results provide strong support when identifying areas that need to be preserved, to ensure that the Knot continue to have a future. (MD)