What a difference a day (or a storm) makes

Just a few short sharp showers. A less strong west wind.

South Shore

I went along the sea wall mid morning at low water (Malcolm)

Tern 1 - almost certainly a Common feeding at the seaward end of No.1 outflow, but very difficult to see against a backdrop of breaking waves.

Mediterranean gull 8 (6 adult 1 each 1st and 2nd summer) - yesterday the Meds were either resting along the shoreline or feeding at the seaward end of No.1 outflow. But today, something had changed. Not only were they feeding on the Sandmason worms on the beach between No.1 outflow and the wooden jetty, they were catching them easily and regularly.

Adult (same ringed bird as yesterday) with a Sandmason worm

This 2nd summer also has one here, but what you can see is not just the worm, but
the top of its tube with the worm below. This worm is clamped through the tube walls

You can see it catch the above worm and remove it from its tube in this clip.

I've always thought that the worms are more vulnerable when they need to pop above their tube at breeding times, and that that is linked to the lunar/tidal calendar. But this change was too abrupt for that. It looks like yesterday's strong SW wind driven waves had washed away some of the sediment, leaving more of the tube above the mud. That also explains why the gulls were grabbing the tube to grip the worm.

This shot shows the extent of the worms' tube above the mud today

Both Herring and Lesser Black-Backed gulls were taking advantage of the harvest, but strangely, the Black-Headed gulls showed little interest. But the Meds are the specialists, and one of the reasons they are here.

I returned towards high water to check the gulls on Red Nab.

Mediterranean gulls 15 at least. Including 4 first summer and 2 second summer. 

No sign of any colour ringed birds, but most were hunkered down.
The only real chance to check their legs was when they were landing.
The bird on the right does have a metal ring.

Unfortunately, for gull spotting, a juvenile Peregrine falcon was patrolling the sea wall and developing its hunting skills by swooping down on the gulls and lifting everything.

Fortunately, Janet was on the sea wall:

Some of the gulls being flushed from Red Nab (at least 8 Meds in this shot)

The young flusher.....juvenile Peregrine Falcon

Also by Janet

First summer Kittiwake 

1 of c200 Curlew returning from the north side feeding grounds

First summer Mediterranean gull

Plenty of Ringlets in the Nature Park