Gannets, more Terns and another start

Another, just about, dry day. Sunny periods in the morning, but cool in the fresh SW wind

Report from Pete Crooks:

Heysham South Harbour Wall – 50-minute sea-watch from the lighthouse (8.45 – 9.35 am)
Gannet – 4 flew into the Bay, then back out about 15 minutes later
Red-throated Diver – 1 on sea off North Harbour Wall
Common Tern – 2 lingering off North Harbour Wall
Great Crested Grebe – 3 offshore
Rock Pipit – 4 between Heysham Harbour and Stage One outfall

Knowlys Road, Heysham
Common Redstart – 1 male on the leeward side of the hawthorn hedge extending down from Knowlys Road to the promenade
Pale-bellied Brent Geese – 11 roosting on the shoreline at low tide (plus a distant Malcolm)

And I was that "distant Malcolm", having a stroll around the skear at low water. These are some of the Brent geese, they were totally ignoring me.

First winter Pale-bellied Brent goose, Knot and Oystercatcher 

Eider 50+

Red-Breasted Merganser 13 - just one adult male in this group of five.

Great Crested grebe 3

Little Egret 14

Shag 1 adult feeding briefly on the south side (later seen on the wooden jetty at high water)

Waders:

Oystercatcher c1,000

Curlew 2

Redshank 60

Knot c1,000 (managed to read a ringed bird, details awaited).

Turnstone 40

Bar-Tailed godwit 18 (13 and 5 came from south before continuing north after a rest)

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Janet had a look this Morning

Male Pheasant

Gadwall pair on the main pond......

........before flying to the "no swimming" pond

Peacock butterfly taking advantage of the morning sun

Swallow 1 over the main pond late afternoon - Angela

Just out of the recording area - horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall

Glossy Ibis still present mid morning at least