Wednesday 29 March 2023

Subtle movement

A freshening south wind. The rain held off till mid afternoon.

Saltmarsh to Red Nab mid morning (MD)
There was quite a lot going on this morning, but it was subtle.
Shelduck 5
I started on the east side of saltmarsh, only stuff there were 4 Goldfinch flying inland, but I didn't see where they came from.
Thought that was going to be it as nothing else till c50m from Red Nab end of the foreshore, then:
8 Meadow Pipits feeding on the grass. They seemed to be finding plenty to eat.


Meadow Pipits

Rock Pipit 2 together on Red Nab plus two single birds that may have been passage. This is one of them.

Rock Pipit
7 Linnets on foreshore - they also seemed to be finding plenty to eat. This one is just finishing off a large seed.

2+4 more Goldfinch on foreshore then inland.
2 alba Wagtail over (assumed Pied rather than White)
6 Greenfinch near Red Nab, think these were just birds from the Nature Park feeding here.
5 Wheatear 
Two male Wheatear amongst the foreshore rocks
2 female Stonechat initially one either side of the bay just before Red Nab, later, probably the same two, seen together.


Female Stonechats

Heysham Head (MD)
I exercised my daughter's dog here after lunch. Probably what I didn't see was the most interesting. There were no Brent Geese to be seen on the north shore.
I also didn't check below the cliffs so no Rock Pipits seen.
Two displaying Greenfinch
Chiffchaff 2
Jay 2
Both the above in the wooded area.