It felt a bit more like summer........despite the awful weather!

A mainly dry morning till a very heavy thunderstorm at lunchtime. The rain eased but continued till mid afternoon. A light variable breeze.

Heysham skear - low water 13:30 (Malcolm)

I reasoned that if anything had been passing over, the thunderstorm would have grounded them, so I set off just before low water, not far to go, the tide barely uncovers the middle skear on these neap tides. It was still raining but the lightening had stopped. Just as I reached the western edge there was a flock of ducks on the sea, unfortunately just 18 female Eider. Still, having made the effort I was determined to get a clip. The rain was heavy, not raining as heavily as earlier, but the individual drops were large and heavy.

It was easier walking back with the wind to my back and the rain easing further.

Little Egret 6

Curlew 5

Oystercatcher 300

Nothing else on the sea.

South shore (Malcolm)

A quite pleasant walk along the sea wall as the rain stopped in the afternoon.

Shelduck 1

Little Egret 2

Mediterranean gull 1 adult 

Originally resting on No.2 outflow rail

It then flew down to rest on the shore

Black-Headed gulls have been notable by their absence so far this summer, but today there were 10 including the first juvenile. Shrimps have also been notable by their absence until recently, but these Black-Headed gulls, including the juvenile seemed to be catching plenty.

The Herring gulls nesting on one of the harbour platforms have at least 3 chicks

Curlew 42 - there were already 15 resting on the mud out from Red Nab and they were joined by 27 more flying from the north side.

Curlew

Peregrine Falcon 1

Rock Pipit - no activity near the lighthouse, this lone bird at No.1 outflow was collecting food, but only for itself .

Linnet 4 - 2 each at the lighthouse and on foreshore 

Grey Seal 1 female resting between the outflows.