Little gulls, hand outs and leftovers

A fresh SW wind became very strong in the afternoon. The inevitable rain managed to hold off till 15:00.

First an update from yesterday:

Mediterranean Gull 1 adult following ferry out of port yesterday pm - thanks to Jen Coates and Mark Fanshawe.

Mediterranean gull by Jen Coates

Heysham skear - low water 08:45 (MD)

The wind wasn't so strong at this time, but it cold!

Very Little on the sea:

Eider 16

Pale-bellied Brent goose 11 - there is virtually nothing for them to eat on or around the skear, there were two groups 5 and 6. The 6 were just drifting around on the north side, the group of 5 had been on the western edge, but flew to the SE skear corner just as the tide started making.

Pink-Footed goose c300 in 4 skeins, high to the north

Oystercatcher 2500

Knot 1,500

Curlew 30

Redshank just 15 - most seem to be on the south side of the harbour.

Turnstone 100

Ringed Plover 25

Six Carrion Crows on Conger rock

South shore - mid afternoon at the height of the SW wind but before the rain (MD, AP)

Pale-bellied Brent geese 36 (14, 3 and 19) were feeding on Red Nab

Wigeon 200

Little Gull 2 adult - I went along the wall first (MD) and just saw the one feeding between No.2 outflow and Red Nab. Alan was just setting off as I was heading back, the first gull continued to feed near No.2 and Alan picked up a second between the outflows.

This is the first Little gull, looking back towards Red Nab. Quite early in the clip, you can see the group of three Brent geese setting off to the south.

Adult Little Gull

Rock Pipit 2 - one each Red Nab and Saltmarsh 

Also on saltmarsh 

Reed Bunting 2 

Skylark 1 

Common Snipe 1

Nature Park:

Janet put out some more of her peanut chips near the white barrier:

Great Tit

Blue Tit

Coal Tit

The birds arrived very quickly for the feast so Janet tried to tempt them to hand, but only a Robin was brave enough.

There were several Robins, this one was looking the worse for wear, at least it won't have an empty stomach tonight.

Grey Squirrel awaiting its turn

I walked past the barrier this afternoon (MD). There was no obvious food around. But this flock of 10 Long-Tailed Tits were finding plenty of leftovers. One of these has a bad leg and is using its wings and tail for additional support.

Just out of the recording area - Middleton Parish Hall

Glossy Ibis in the horse paddock behind the Hall at least till late morning.

All the regulars present

A nice dry and sunny day with a light variable breeze.

South Shore

Pale-bellied Brent goose 36 - they had been feeding out from Knowlys Rd before flying to Red Nab.

Shelduck 12

Wigeon c350

Janet's shot showing the Wigeon beginning to amass before moving to Red Nab

Shag 1 on the wooden jetty as the tide was nearly full

Curlew c150 - as ever a steady movement south as the tide covers the north side shore.

A typical group of Curlew heading south

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

The "no swimming" pond has returned to its normal height, and the wildfowl has started to return too.

Gadwall 8

Mallard 8

Tufted Duck 4 males (later flew to the main pond)

Teal 3 (1 male)

Coot 1

Moorhen 1

Little Grebe 1

Water Rail 1 calling

Grey Heron 1

These are the Tufted with some of the Gadwall 

Male Tufted Duck

The wildfowl on the main pond remains as of late although not as many Mallard.

Imperial Rd (MD)

Buzzard 1

Fieldfare 23 in the trees near the recycling centre gates.

North shore (HS)

We have just come to the end of another set of spring tides and Howard's efforts and perseverance has resulted in a good number of ringed Knot being read. Each set of tides provides different opportunities and obstacles. The Knot on the Heliport roost this set have been favouring standing in the grass. This clip shows them coming in and eventually setting with not one leg to be seen.

But even when settled in a more open area they are often spooked and move off.

Carrion Crows and Sparrowhawks are just two of the natural disturbers.
Ramblers, dog walkers and fishermen also often get close enough to spook them too

Then when you finally get a clear shot, the rings or flags can be damaged making identification impossible. This is an inevitable consequence of ensuring that any rings or flags are light enough not to cause the birds any discomfort, even so, very frustrating!

Oystercatcher with a white but broken flag

A Norwegian ringed Knot also with a broken flag making it impossible to identify 

Even so, Howard read enough to provide valuable information as to their 
movements and habits, hopefully going some way to ensuring that sights like
these will still be available for future generations (Malcolm)

Just out of the recording area - Middleton Parish Hall

Glossy Ibis 1

Green Sandpiper 1

Seen in the horse paddock behind the Hall by several observers today.

These shots by David Kaye show it still has at least one loose feather

Little gull was handy and Ibis flighty

It rained all day sometimes very hard. A light NE wind

South shore (MD)

I went along the sea wall late afternoon as the tide was ebbing, partly as I didn't have much time today, but mainly as the heavy rain had eased a bit! Also hoping, in vain, that the Ibis might fly along the wall to roost again.

Pale-bellied Brent goose 23 flew from Red Nab to the north side.

Shelduck 5

Wigeon c350

Little Gull 1 first winter on No.2 outflow. It was raining quite hard at this point and the light was fading quickly. The shots I managed were, at best, grainy, but they were hard won so I'm going to use them anyway.

First winter Little Gull

Shag 1 - I couldn't see any on the wooden jetty, but the most mature looking one was in the harbour near the waterfall. 

Shag

Rock Pipit 3 - one on Red Nab and two along the sea wall

Just out of the recording area. Middleton Parish Hall (MD)

Glossy Ibis 1 over to the west.

I called in at 10:00 and couldn't see it in the horse paddock or surrounding fields. A second look at 13:30 again saw its regular fields empty. Then it flew over the horse paddock from somewhere to the east and continued west in a line that would take it towards Middleton Nature Reserve.

The constant heavy rain had made many of the nearby fields waterlogged and presumably made for easy pickings for earthworms. It makes "sense" to feed elsewhere when the opportunity arises so as not to over deplete the supply of worms in its favoured feeding area. Although I guess for the Ibis it is more about instinct than logic. Or perhaps it just fancied a fly around!

Plenty of geese, but no goosander

A light SE wind. Dry but overcast all day. The low clouds were very bobbly, they are called mammatus clouds (MD).

These bobbly cloud formations are called mammatus clouds

Pale-bellied Brent goose 49 – 46 (25 adults, 21 1st winters) off the children’s play area at 9.15 am. - ref Pete Crooks

These shots from Janet.

This shot shows the proximity to Heysham village

They had been feeding in various groups but all flew to the south side together and landed on Red Nab. Andrew Cornall saw an additional 3 come in to Red Nab from further south.

South shore (MD)

Brent geese as above

Pink-Footed goose 1034 in 6 skeins heading south, all within a 20 minute spell just before noon. This is one of the smaller, but closer skeins.

Wigeon 397 - I don't think there were actually any more than of late, they are just so much easier to count earlier in the tide while they are waiting to get to Red Nab.

Shag 2 on wooden jetty

Rock Pipit 5 - one at Red Nab, two along the sea wall and these two near the waterfall. This clip is a compilation of three clips but they did occur in this order and very little time between them. It begins with one bird dropping down the wall, with a leaf in its bill. Then the other bird is trying to extract a snail from its shell (possibly a periwinkle), when it succeeds (last clip) it also drops down the wall with the food. If this was later in the year I would say the second bird was a male taking food for the female on the nest. Perhaps it is just part of the courting process, to demonstrate that "he" is a good provider.

Linnet 2 between the lighthouse and waterfall where at least one pair bred last year

Only the regular wildfowl on Middleton Nature Reserve, no sign of yesterday's Goosander

Just out of the recording area, both the Glossy Ibis and the Green Sandpiper were showing well in and around the horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall. One of the observers was Andrew Cornall who said that the Ibis appeared to have three loose feathers today.

Brent routine back to, well, routine again. Plus a Goosander visit

A light SW drifting to SE wind. A mainly dry day with sunny spells.

Just my stuff so far (MD)

Pale-bellied Brent goose 47 - 45 were feeding on the rocks out from the play area on the north side. Two lots were seen flying into Red Nab from the north side, 29 and 14. Later 39 and 8 flew south from Red Nab.

South shore

Brent geese as above

Wigeon 220

Shag 2 on the wooden jetty

Rock Pipit 1

Middleton Nature Reserve 

A quick lunchtime check, to see if I could find yesterday's Kingfisher, no luck there but a nice surprise.

Goosander 1 male - they have historically been very rare here, but records have been increasing recently, probably relating to the developing fish stocks in the two main ponds.

Male Goosander

This clip gives a nice view from all angles.

A passing evening check saw that it was still on the pond.

There were other ducks on the pond, but they were resting behind the tree cover so hard to see but at least

Gadwall 4

Mallard 2

Little Grebe 1 calling from the main pond

Other stuff on the main pond was as yesterday 

Pink-Footed goose 29 north

Just out of the recording area - the Glossy Ibis was still in the horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall early evening. I wasn't going to bother with a picture as my shots can't improve on some of the excellent pictures posted recently. But it seems to be loosing a feather, so took this clip to better demonstrate (sorry about the chainsaw noise, but it does show that it is quite tolerant of disturbance)

A bit of a Brent puzzle

Quite a fresh and definitely chilly SW wind. Dry with sunshine for much of the day.

Pale-belled Brent geese 31 at least

There were 31 feeding amongst the rocks out from the play area from Knowlys Rd early in the tide.

There were none on Red Nab when Shaun walked along the south wall also early in the tide and none were seen flying from the north side, but when I (Malcolm) walked out a little later there were 15 that seemed to be flying towards Potts Corner from Red Nab, leaving just 1 feeding on the rocks. Then 8 flew back and joined the single bird on Red Nab. This is them coming in.

It's not clear where the birds feeding on the north side went to, but an afternoon check saw 24 feeding out from the play area again.

South shore

There ended up being a group of us, me, Janet, Shaun, Gareth, Lesley and Carol. Shame there wasn't more to see.

Wigeon 200+

Shag 1 on the wooden jetty

Kittiwake 2 adult past the harbour entrance

Peregrine Falcon 1

At the saltmarsh 

Common Snipe 6

Rock Pipit 2

Reed Bunting 5

Sparrowhawk 1 flew through the Nature Park

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

I checked all four main ponds today.

Main Pond

Mute pair plus 7 immature 

Mallard 16

Coot 5

Moorhen 4

No swimming pond - the water is again 1.5m above normal, it has been seesawing all winter.

Gadwall  16

Mallard 4

Teal 2

Moorhen 2

Little Grebe 1

Little Grebe with a little fish

It caught three fish in as many minutes, the last one nearly got away.

Kingfisher 1 - just a glimpse as it zipped across the pond unfortunately to a corner that was obscured by trees. With this many fish about it may hang around.

Tim Butler pond - this is the first opportunity I've had to check this pond this winter. It is increasing difficult to get a clear view of the pond, but it is slightly easier in winter when there is little foliage.

Mute Swan 2 together, one appears to be young as its bill is not yet bright orange.

Tim Butler Mute Swans

Gadwall 5

Teal 8 at least although they were easier to hear than see. I like the way the males bob up and down like a toy duck when they are calling.

Tufted Duck 2 male

Tufted Duck

Coot 1

Fence Pond - extensive work has been done here to reclaim the open water, unfortunately woefully underpopulated today.

Mallard 3

Just out of the recording area, the Glossy Ibis was feeding in the horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall. These great shots by Howard Stockdale.

A bit less variety

A SE to S wind. Overcast all day and steady rain after lunch.

South shore (MD)

Pale-bellied Brent goose 35 flew to Red Nab directly from the west side of the bay.

Pink-Footed goose 61 flew north - first I've seen or heard since the cold spell.

Shelduck 5 south

Shelduck 

Red-breasted Merganser 2 south

Wigeon c250

Shag 1 (the darkest bird) on the wooden jetty

Shag with a Cormorant and Great Black-Backed gulls

Redshank 130 in one group seeking a high water roost

They eventually settled on the wooden jetty with a few Cormorants 

Turnstone these five were turning stones by the saltmarsh yesterday, you can see them pause briefly, as someone calls out in the distance.

Rock Pipits 3 - one near lighthouse and two along the sea wall, saltmarsh not checked today.

Rock,Pipits along the sea wall

North shore (JP)

These Knot were roosting below Heysham Head, and includes one with a yellow flag. Much too distant to be within reading range.

Knot

Just outside the recording area, the Glossy Ibis was in the horse paddock at Middleton Parish Hall this morning. Not seen at 15:45, but it was miserable and it may have already left for its roost.

A bit of variety

The strong overnight SW wind had eased by morning and continued to ease all day. Dry with occasional sunny spells.

South Shore

Pete watched the lunchtime ferry come in.

Mediterranean Gull 1 adult came in front of the ferry and was lost as it continued beyond the north wall.

Little Gull 1 adult was quite a way offshore therefore likely coincidental rather than a ferry follower.

Kittiwake 6-7 adults

I checked towards high water in the morning (MD). Once again there were no gulls of interest on the outflows.

Pale-Bellied Brent goose 36 on Red Nab

Wigeon 200+

Shelduck 18

Shag 1 in the harbour

Shag resting on the supports for one of the platforms in the harbour

It flew out of the harbour and landed on the wooden jetty

Lapwing 65 on saltmarsh 

No Reed Buntings

Rock Pipit 5 including 2 on saltmarsh 

Janet's shot of one of today's Rock Pipit

Turnstone 

Male Chaffinch in the Nature Park

North Shore (HS)

Knot c6,000 roosting on the old heliport, unfortunately mainly resting in the grass with legs obscured. Still Howard managed to locate six ringed birds and three were readable.

A few of today's Knot

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

I went down in the evening to see what effect the storm had on the Jackdaw, Wood Pigeon and Stock Dove roosts. The short answer, at least for the short term, is that they are no more. Just......

Jackdaw 12

Wood Pigeon 3

Stock dove 0

On the two main ponds:

Mute Swan pair plus 7 immature 

Mallard 28

Gadwall 5

Coot 5

Moorhen 6

Cetti's warbler 1 calling near the "no swimming" pond

Just out of the recording area - Middleton Parish Hall. The Glossy Ibis is still feeding in the horse paddock behind the Hall. Today's excellent shots (despite the less than ideal lighting) from Chris Penrice.