Thursday 27 June 2024

First colour ringed Med of the year

A strong gusty SW wind freshened throughout the day. Mainly dry after early showers.

South shore (Malcolm)
A check in the morning at low water 
Kittiwake 1 first summer
Black-Headed gulls 200+
Mediterranean gulls at least 6 adults alternating between feeding on the seaward end of No.1 outflow and resting along the shoreline (more on these later)
Tern (probably a Common but too distant to be sure) also feeding, albeit briefly, at the seaward end of No.1 outflow.

This Cormorant was worn out. It rested on No.2 rail for the duration of my walk.
Most of the time with its head under its wing.
This was the only time it showed its face.

Peregrine Falcon two cavorting around the Power Stations.

Peregrine Falcons

A second check in the afternoon on the quickly rising tide.
No sign of the Tern
Mediterranean gulls 9 at least - 6 adult, 2 first summer and 1 second summer
Ringed as a nestling 11/06/19 at Leipzig Germany
It was seen at Heysham later that year. And agin in 2022 and 2023
This record is a month earlier than any previous ones. Recent history awaited

Don't think there were any more ringed birds, although most were hunkered 
down against the wind. There are three adults in this shot

Two adults and a first summer. The nearer adult is the yellow ringed bird

Middleton Nature Reserve 
Angela Gillon managed some nice wildfowl shots with her phone
Mute Swan family


Coot with chicks

Angela also took this clip of feeding Swifts yesterday evening. They were over her house to the east of the recording area where they are not regular visitors.