A fresh NW wind with just the odd light shower.
South shore
Janet was first to check this morning.
Nine Pale-bellied Brent geese on Red Nab |
Rock pipit near the lighthouse |
Grey seal 1 between the outflows.
The "elephant's ears" are just the waves it displaced as it dived. |
Brimstone butterfly in the Nature Park |
I checked a little later (Malcolm)
Linnet a pair on the saltmarsh
Female Linnet with nest lining material |
Whimbrel 2 - one on the saltmarsh and this one feeding on the foreshore grass.
Whimbrel |
Warblers in the Nature Park
Two each, Chiffchaff, Willow warbler and Blackcap
Lesser Whitethroat 1 (one of ten Lesser Whitethroat covered in today's post)
Imperial Rd
Just the briefest of stop offs to check the field to NE of the roundabout
Little Egret 8
Lesser Whitethroat 3 heard from the roundabout
Middleton Nature Reserve
Another brief check of the central marsh located 7 warbler species in the morning (Malcolm)
Cetti's warbler 5
Sedge Warbler 1
Reed Warbler 2
Blackcap 2
Willow Warbler 4
Chiffchaff 3
Lesser Whitethroat 6 at least, including 3 along the access road.
But by this afternoon at least one Grasshopper warbler was reeling - Rosie Briggs
So, we're up to 8 warbler species now.
Reed Bunting 1
Common Snipe 1
Pheasant 1 male calling
Heysham skear - low water 16:40
I walked out with some trepidation after yesterday's washout (Malcolm). But it turned out to an enjoyable walk, largely in sunshine.
Little Egret 6
Eider 34
Great Crested Grebe 1
Shag 1 adult resting on conger rock.
Shag |
Sandwich Tern 2
Initially they were both resting on a rock.
Sandwich Terns |
Then one flew off and began fishing
Osprey 1 very distant to the north. Fortunately, they and the effect they have on gulls are very distinctive!
Osprey with a cloud of gulls in tow. Its laboured flight suggests that it was carrying a fish. It was flying NW at 15:30, heading for Foulshaw? |
Waders pretty much as recent, except no Whimbrel seen or heard. This is a nice clip of a Curlew feeding with Oystercatcher and Knot.
Swallow 1 north
Just out of the recording area - horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall
Glossy Ibis there mid morning at least.