It just about managed to stay dry, with occasional sunny spells. The NW wind drifting round to the west by evening.
Middleton Nature Reserve (Janet)
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| Grasshopper warbler |
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| Common Whitethroat |
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| One of many Goldfinch |
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| Male Pheasant zipping over |
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| Ringlet the most abundant butterfly |
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| Six-spot Burnet |
This Common Whitethroat was singing on Heysham Head this morning - Tim Woodward
South shore (Malcolm)
Only time for one outing today, so I checked the beach next to the wooden jetty as the tide was ebbing at lunchtime. There tends to be less opportunities for the gulls to catch the sandmason worms on these neap tides. Presumably the worms are staying safely at the bottom of their tubes.
None of the gulls were trying to catch them today, but were feeding on both outflows and resting/preening on the mud.
Mediterranean gull 14 minimum - typically 6-10 were resting on the beach by the jetty at any one time, then returning to feed on the outflows.
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| Two Meds here with Black-Headed, Herring and Lesser Black-Backed gulls |
They seemed to be finding plenty to eat, but it must have been small as not readily visible. Perhaps the tiny Sandeels (see yesterday's post)
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| Both the two German ringed birds stopped off for a preen between feeding, this is the veteran detailed yesterday |
Kittiwake 1 first summer seen feeding on both outflows
Rock Pipit 1 along sea wall
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| A flock of Long-Tailed Tits were feeding in the Nature Park. This juvenile stopped for a rest on the perimeter fence. |
Butterflies:
Only a Specked Wood was seen on the way out, but it was trying to rain then.
On the return leg the sun had come out
Ringlet 12
Small White 1
Small Skipper 1
Meadow Brown 1
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| Meadow Brown |