Today was a no Starter

It pretty much rained all day today. A south to SW wind.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Still 4 Goosander on the "no swimming" pond. 

Cetti's warbler 1 singing

South shore

Today's title refers to the absence of any known sightings of the Black Redstart.

I had a walk along the sea wall late morning on the rising tide (Malcolm)

Pale-bellied Brent goose - just 4 arrived at Red Nab. 

Wigeon 320

Shelduck 2

Shag 1 adult resting on the wooden jetty.

There were no gulls at all feeding on the outflows - more on this later.

Redshank 60

Rock Pipit 3

It was lashing down when I reached the roundhead so I sheltered behind the lighthouse a while. It wasn't possible to see the buoys out from the north wall, partly because of the rain reducing visibility, but mainly because the fast running incoming spring tide had reduced the amount of buoy showing. As the rain eased slightly what remained of the buoys came into view.

Both buoys had only their tips showing. I hadn't expected to see the southern (left) one at all as it had been
completely submerged on much less forceful tides. Whatever was tangled to its chain must have been freed.

Today's tide at 10.4m really rips through. This is the northern buoy, which is normally barely effected by the tide

Imperial Rd

I had a quick look early this  morning (Malcolm). But the farmer was harrowing the pastures just east of the road. Nothing about then, but I thought the effect of harrowing might attract something later, so I went back this afternoon.

The fields were absolutely packed with Gulls, no wonder the outflows were deserted.

These are just a fraction of the gulls, there were also thousands of Starlings

I had just started going through the gulls to see if there was anything different, when suddenly everything went up!

One of three startling flocks

I couldn't see what had spooked them, a reaction like this comes from a perceived threat. Not typically what you would expect here from a Buzzard passing over.

But eventually that's all I could find, but it was two Buzzards (presumably the residents) chasing off a third. So the ensuing turmoil might have been what triggered the gulls to panic.

Three Common Buzzards

It was getting late and the gulls didn't return, but I would imagine that the fields will attract gulls again tomorrow. 

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

Glossy Ibis feeding in the field next to the paddock