Peregrines affecting Med behaviour

It managed to remain dry but feeling cool in the NW wind.

South shore

Report by Pete Crooks:

Mediterranean Gull – 9 roosting on Red Nab at 8.30 am – 7 adults (including Yellow AZTZ from Germany), 1 2nd summer & 1 1st summer. As the tide began to drop the Med Gulls became spread across the exposed areas of mud between HS2 outfall and the wooden pier, with some also off the harbour mouth: at least 18 – 11 adults (including Green AKUT also from Germany), 3 2nd summer and 4 1st summer) by 10.20 am when I had to leave. Malcolm stayed on so probably saw more.

Kittiwake – long-staying 1st summer on the rocks by HS2 outfall

Oystercatcher – 575 roosting on Red Nab

Peregrine – 2 over Red Nab, flushing all the Oystercatcher just after I had finished counting them!

Mute Swan – 1 immature on the foreshore between Red Nab and HS2 outfall before flying off north

Rock Pipit – 1 displaying near the harbour lighthouse

Ringlet – 1 in Heysham Nature Park

Brown Rat – 1 feeding on bird seed scattered by the parking area at the entrance to the Nature Park

There wasn't really much else to see (Malcolm)

The green ringed bird never arrived at the feeding beach

The green ringed adult Med with a Black-Headed gull

.....and the yellow one left it late.

The yellow ringed adult coming in to feed, plus a second summer Med

Some of the first summer Meds have almost complete hoods

There almost certainly were more Meds around but as Pete said they were well scattered and difficult to keep track of.

The cooler conditions today meant the
Six-spot Burnets were more subdued 

I went to check Red Nab as the tide was reaching it.

Mediterranean gulls 15 at least, but it was still difficult counting as the Peregrines flushed them at least twice. The gulls actually lifted four times, but they were edgy and two of the occasions looked to be false alarms.

This is the adult with the lower half of its right leg missing.
It wasn't on the feeding beach this morning, but clearly finding
 plenty to eat somewhere it was quite happy just resting 

A nice comparison shot of a Med with two Black-Headed gulls

These are the gulls returning to Red Nab after the third lifting.

Seven Meds in this shot. Four adult, two first summer and one second summer

Unfortunately, they were all then flushed again and it was one time too many. 

The gulls relocated further south, too distant to check properly 
But I don't think any more were colour ringed

Middleton Nature Reserve (Janet)

The Mute family on the main pond have lost a cygnet, now only two

Two Pheasants seen, a female plus this male

A Sparrowhawk wasn't happy with a Buzzard drifting over.

Bell Aire Park (Alison Hayward)

Early morning Sparrowhawk

Tortoise Beetle larvae, interesting method of camouflage/ predator deterrent. 
They cover themselves with their own faeces. 

Also from Alison:

Possibly most interesting was what I am pretty certain was a Ring Necked Parakeet flying over the end of Smithy Lane this morning at about 10:20 am no pictures unfortunately but both calls and silhouette seemed right.