Overnight showers stopped by 09:00. After that dry with sunny spells. A light wind switched from NE to NW.
Pete did a check of the sea from Knowlys Rd:
Goldeneye 1 female with Red-breasted Mergansers, then disappeared. Possibly flew north.
Red-Throated Diver 2 distant
Middleton Nature Reserve (JP)
Goosander 4 (no males) on the "no swimming" pond.
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| Female Goosander |
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| Coot nest building |
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| Moorhen |
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| Reed Bunting |
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| Female Bullfinch |
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| Two of several Chiffchaff, this one ringed |
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| Precariously balanced Wood Pigeon |
The food around the main pond feeding area attracts plenty of Brown Rats. Contrary to their reputation they do endeavour to keep themselves clean.
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| Brown Rat |
South shore (MD)
Shelduck 4
Wigeon 27
Red-breasted Merganser pair
Knot c1500 feeding just out from Red Nab.
Redshank 150Peregrine Falcon 2 - but just watching on, presumably they had already eaten.
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| Peregrine Falcon |
Carrion Crow 10 south in ones and twos.
Shag 1 adult on the wooden jetty. Quite distant, but it put a bit of a show on today.
Rock Pipit 5 (one each, Red Nab, sea wall and lighthouse, 2 at the waterfall). This is the sea wall bird.
This Herring Gull has a small fish in the harbour. Not a species of fish normally seen here. It seems strange that it appears reluctant to eat it and that the other gulls totally ignored it. They normally squabble over every morsel, perhaps these too have already eaten. The fish is still alive, you may prefer the still below.
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| The fish is upside down in this shot. As with most fish it has a dorsal fin in the middle of its back. But this fish has a second fin between the dorsal fin and the tail (caudal) fin. This is an adipose fin, which means this fish is one of the salmon family. A smolt, either a Sea Trout or a Salmon. It has just moved to the sea from one of our local rivers, hopefully there are many more about and at least some will make it. If it is a Salmon smolt, any that do make it can head as far as Greenland to feed before returning to the same river to breed. Sea Trout stay in more coastal waters, although not in the bay. |
Redwing 1 near Half Moon Bay Cafe
Other stuff from Pete:
Stonechat 1 female Imperial Rd
Rookery on recording area boundary in wood north side of road from ibis (3 nests plus adults). Historically, Rooks have only been seen in the recording area on occasional autumn passage.
Just out of the recording area - horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall
Glossy Ibis still feeding
