More wagtail details......but little else

The light early south wind freshened as it shifted to the west. By evening it was very strong. Heavy afternoon and evening showers.

The Pembroke grey wagtail was seen at St David’s 4/10/24.  Ringed Middleton Sept 2022, a distance of 288km SW

South shore (Malcolm)

I was busy this morning and couldn't get out till mid afternoon as the heavy rain was easing. I was hoping the rain might have grounded something, but the Foreshore was deserted.

Shelduck 49 - 46 feeding plus 3 south

Wigeon 29

There is still lush gutweed, even on the outer Red Nab rocks

Some of the male Wigeon are getting their yellow foreheads now

Little Egret 3

Linnet 77 at least - one flock of 70 on the saltmarsh plus 3 and 4 seen along the sea wall.

A small raptor, probably a Merlin, flew across the saltmarsh, unfortunately the sun was out at that point and behind the bird.

Some of the Linnet landing on the saltmarsh, Shelduck on the mud
and Blackpool Tower on the skyline

And that was about it for the birds. Plenty of Black-Headed gulls feeding on the outfalls, but nothing else. The wind is battering heavy rain against my west facing window as I type this, but it is scheduled to ease long before morning.

The strong west wind blew straight into the harbour. This Cormorant 
sat down to brace against it. Also two Great Black-Backed gulls.

30,Cormorants on the wooden jetty.
Another squall was approaching, time to leave

Middleton Nature Reserve (Malcolm)

Just the briefest of checks of the two main ponds on the way home.

Mute Swan pair with cygnet on main pond. Just one adult on the "no swimming" pond.

Mallard 19

The mute family with Mallard and Coot

Gadwall 11

Tufted Duck 9

Gadwall, Tufted Duck and Coot

Coot 18

Moorhen 7 including 2 immature - the Moorhen strategy in the strong west wind was to wait on the east banks and pick food from the surface that had been blown across the ponds. This is an immature bird.