Well read Med

The NW wind continues. Overcast with showers, some heavy.

South shore.

This report and images by Martin Loftus are from Martin's walk along the sea wall yesterday afternoon.

200+ LBB / Herring Gulls

100+ BH Gulls 

5 common gulls 

1 first summer kittiwake

c20 Mediterranean gulls

This adult Med has picked up a tiny Sandeel from the surface of the outflow

Shaun Cole checked this morning on the ebbing tide:

Mediterranean Gulls 17 (Ad 7, 2nd summer 6, 1st summer 4). 

Kittiwake 1 1st summer

Rock Pipit displaying near the lighthouse 

I checked the beach between No.1 outflow and the wooden jetty as it became exposed. For reasons only known to them, the gulls swooped in as soon as the mud was showing. Unlike yesterday when it took a while for any to turn up. These are some of the early arrivals 

So many gulls trying to feed in a small area, things were bound to become fractious!

Unfortunately, a shower was just beginning and the darkening skies told that it was set in for a while, so I left. By that time 13 Mediterranean gulls had arrived to feed.

A quick evening check around Red Nab towards high water (Malcolm). We are back to neap tides now and the tide isn't high enough to cover all the mud so the gulls tend to spread out more.

Black-Headed and Mediterranean gulls resting in the lee of a small outcrop.
One of the Meds behind it had a green ring, but not good enough views to read

At least there was no Peregrine disturbance tonight, although the gulls were still jumpy. A Carrion Crow managed to spook these off Red Nab. At least when they first land you get to see their legs.

That was the yellow ringed German bird

There were at least 20 Mediterranean gull on and around Red Nab. 13 adult, 5 first summer and 2 second summer 

This Blackbird in the Nature Park has a fecal sac.

Janet had a walk along the sea wall in the evening sunshine 

Cinnabar moth near the Harbour - first of the year

Lighthouse Rock Pipit

The Peregrines haven't moved on they were just mucking about further along the wall.

Peregrine Falcons

Juvenile with adult Black-Headed gulls

Juvenile Black-Headed gull with first summer Mediterranean gull

This is the green ringed Med gull that arrived on Saturday, we now have the sightings
history and know that she is a female. Just a month ago she was back in Germany at
the site where she was ringed 12 years ago. Even the following list is not complete,
some multiple same site records have been edited out. This Med has certainly been
read many times. And she's still looking good. Hopefully many more records to come.

A lengthy life history - so much easier to read roof nesters during the breeding season than gravel and wetland nesters obscured by vegetation