Yellow-Legged gull best of the day.

A strong west wind began to ease by the evening. Some very heavy showers, particularly around lunchtime. Sunny spells in between.

Early am coverage by Pete Marsh and on north wall Mark Prestwood. 

At least 26 Mediterranean gull

1 2cy  little gull on red nab then flushed by tide and headed south (also seen on the outfalls 13:15)

1 2cy  kittiwake

distant common/arctic tern ocean edge to wooden jetty as watched from Ocean Edge grass. 

Juvenile Yellow-legged gull red nab then soaring north above seawall. 

Not a lot on the sea but no coverage after 1100 - ad and 2cy Gannet and two common tern out 

South shore (Malcolm)

I waited till mid afternoon when the beach by the jetty was exposed. As I watched the rain battering against my window, I just hoped it would be dry, and possibly a bit of sunshine. I got my wish....but I wished I hadn't!

It was still very wild and there were loads of gulls, including many Herring and Lesser Black-Backed feeding on the outflows.

Mediterranean gull 12 at least. 6 on the sea out from the harbour others feeding on the outflows and occasionally resting on the beaches beside them.

By this time the sun was blazing down making the beach a silver shimmering sea of lights. It was very difficult to even identify the Meds, let alone read the two birds that were ringed.

This is the yellow ringed German bird, leaving the beach by the wooden jetty
to feed on the outflows. Note the smooth shiny surface of the mud below and
the slew of soft mud dripping from its feet. Unlike the last storm which stripped
away a layer of mud, this storm has deposited one

This is the other ringed bird, definitely new for this year with a green ring
on the left leg. Normally I would be able to read it at this range, but not in 
this light. I suspect that every point of light on the mud is the tip of a Sandmason
worm tube just below the surface. They can easily extend their tubes but unlikely 
to extend as far above the mud as they were. This bird also returned to the outflows.

I don't think either the bathing adult or the second summer bird in this clip were ringed, but it shows just how difficult viewing was. Particularly being buffeted by the still strong wind. The Sandmason worm tubes closer in are still showing, but beyond are fresh deposits of mud.

Peregrine Falcon 2

I returned late evening and managed to relocate and read the green ringed Mediterranean gull. - details tomorrow.

The gulls were drinking and washing in the freshwater run off at Red Nab before heading for their night roost.

Just for a splash of colour, two more moths from Kevin's trap from the two days of summer we managed last month!

Barred Yellow

Elephant Hawk-moth

Just out of the recording area. Mark Jones is at his caravan at Middleton Sands this week. He advises that the Rooks visiting the feeders there are now being accompanied by young birds (2 individual adults each with a youngster today).

Although the record is just south of the area, it is assumed that they are from the new Rookery on the very southern tip of the recording area.