Thursday 18 July 2024

First returning Common Sandpiper

 Mainly overcast with light showers. A light west wind.

South Shore (Malcolm)
I went along the sea wall later in the tide today, but didn't fare much better than yesterday.
Little Egret 3
Little Egret by No.2 outflow

Grey Heron 1
Grey Heron on the other side of No.2 outflow

Common Sandpiper 1 flew from the sea wall to the rocks half way along the outflow.

Mediterranean Gull 3 - 2 adult and 1 3rd calendar year.

These three, recently fledged Lesser Black-Backed gulls have taken to resting above the steps near the lighthouse. This clip is actually from yesterday, but they were in the same place today.

Same gulls, same place, today

Pied Wagtail 5 (1 each Red Nab and sea wall, 3 between lighthouse and waterfall)
Pied Wagtail near the waterfall 

Rock Pipit 1 on Red Nab
Wet Rock Pipit, after a bath in the freshwater runoff


Peregrine Falcon 1

Around the saltmarsh edge
Emperor Dragonfly 1 female
Gatekeeper 4
Large White 3
Small White 2
Red Admiral 1
Red Admiral 

Janet took these shots on Heysham Head
Gatekeeper 

Meadow Brown


Middleton Nature Reserve (Malcolm)
Just the briefest of passing checks of the two main ponds late afternoon.
Wildfowl pretty much the same. Except only one young Gadwall was with the female.
Female and immature Gadwall

Swift 3 feeding high and drifting south