The day didn't start off promising for "Irish sea day" at Half Moon Bay, with early showers and overcast. But it brightened up and ended up warm and sunny.
Half Moon Bay (Malcolm)
Just an hour mid morning
Grey Wagtail 1 came in off from the west
Pied Wagtail 5 feeding on kelp fly maggots in the wrack on the tideline.
Grey Heron 2 - 1 north and 1 chased east by territorial gulls
Little Egret 1 feeding
South shore (Malcolm)
Couldn't get to Red Nab early enough in the afternoon to watch the tide approach it, so I went out on the mud from the saltmarsh, expecting the Peregrine or holidaymakers to flush the Red Nab gulls. It didn't happen!
Mediterranean gull just 1 adult rested with the Black-Headed and Common gulls on the mud
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| This Lesser Black-Backed gull took exception to me! |
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| Common and Black-Headed gulls stretching their wings |
Curlew only 30 seen heading south, but it was late in the tide and most would already be at their high water roost.
Whimbrel 3
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| Whimbrel |
Lapwing 2
Swallow 1 south
Heliport wall - Near Naze (Malcolm)
I just stopped by on my way home, and miraculously, there was no disturbance. It was almost high water and the Near Naze and Heliport wall were full of waders.
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| Just Oystercatcher on the Near Naze |
But a nice cosmopolitan mix on the sloping heliport wall.
Best estimate of numbersOystercatcher 930 (Near Naze and sloping wall)
Redshank 200
Knot 37
Turnstone 24
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| Redshank, Knot and Turnstone |
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| Oystercatcher and Knot |
So, seven species of waders today. I'm going to check out the skear in the morning, it will be interesting to see what waders are there.
