Very heavy overnight west wind continued to ease during the morning. Overcast, but mainly dry with just a few light showers.
Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)
Little change in the wildfowl, no Pochard today but Three male Tufted duck.
Water Rail squealing from the central marsh
Cetti's warbler, also the central marsh bird, heard singing several times in a five minute visit.
South shore
I walked out before the ferry arrived (MD)
Kittiwake 17 including 6 first winter. Some, at least, seemed exhausted. This adult flew in 20 minutes before the ferry, and landed no more than 5 metres from me and settled for a rest on the sea wall near the lighthouse.
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| I managed to continue my walk without disturbing it |
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| This second winter Great Black-backed gull is part of the North West England gull project It was ringed 06/07/21 at Walney and was also seen in the harbour last winter, between 9/12/21 - 3/02/22 You seldom get coded rings so well orientated! |
The incoming ferry crossed over with Stenaline so ‘only’ 28 Kittiwake behind Ben my Chree. So with the 17 already around, at least 45 birds
Pete also advises that with the increasing number of Kittiwake around, there is a reasonable chance of a ringed bird, so each one is worth checking.
Dave Hawkins also walked along the wall and took these excellent Kittiwake shots from the outflows, behind the ferry and within the harbour. As ever with such high resolution pictures they should be opened to really appreciate the detail.
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| This one was one of 5 - 6 feeding above the waterfall |
On the way back a distant flock of 190 Lapwing flying south from the saltmarsh area
Rock Pipit 1 near wooden jetty
Wigeon 292 counted by Shaun around Red Nab
It was too early in the tide for any Brent geese, so I popped back for a quick check at 14:00.
Pale-bellied Brent 40 on Red Nab - the tides are dropping now and at 8.3m this afternoon's tide did not flush them off Red Nab, although it may have done if there were more walkers along the wall (there was only me!). But viewing towards high water over the weekend should be worthwhile.
The Kittiwake were still just about everywhere. This first winter flew over Red Nab, allowing a "bird's eye view" of the Oystercatcher, Wigeon and Brent geese.
Well, the "missing" buoy was back today. Obviously it was never missing, just out of sight. The tide was much higher when I checked yesterday, there must be something, presumably a very buoyant something, tangled around the buoys anchoring chain. Today, the tide was just starting to make and the buoy was already leaning under the strain. As the tide rose the buoy may have sunk out of sight again.
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| The left hand buoy was out of sight yesterday. You can already see it leaning as the tide starts to make. Something entangled, quite high up, its anchor chain is pulling down on it. |
Just out of the recording area. Purple Sandpiper roosting at high water on the groyne near Seaborne Rd. ref Shaun
