A dry day with long sunny spells. A west wind.
South shore
Report by Shaun Coyle:
Red Nab to Harbour. 05:30-08:30.
Mute Swan pair south the over outfalls, then landed near Red Nab, before heading off towards Cockerham.
Whimbrel 2 roosting on Red Nab with 27 Curlew.
Bar-tailed Godwit 3 on the beach of Red Nab.
Kittiwake juv on Outfall 2.
Med Gull 14 adults/3CY, single 2CY and 7 1CY
Sandwich Tern 2 feeding on the outfalls.
Cormorant 63 roosting on the Wooden Pier.
Little Egret 2 on Red Nab.
Adult and Juv Peregrine active over Power Stations before heading south.
Lots of waders on a distant sandbar off Ocean Edge, included, about 30 Grey Plovers
I had a walk along the sea wall at lunchtime (Malcolm)
Osprey 1 started fishing between the outflows at 12:35. It caught a Bass in less than 5 minutes on only its first dive into the water. It pulls itself up from this dive.
It looks to have a blue ring on its right leg |
If this is the same bird that has been seen here several times, then this behaviour suggests that it has already fed its family and was now fishing to feed itself. But the earlier opportunity to fish here would have been this morning when Shaun was checking. I still believe that an Osprey would only risk the dangers of grabbing a Bass if there was no easier option. Last time I proposed that the roughness of the sea was the deciding factor, but then Shan saw one feeding here in what appeared to be ideal conditions to catch flatfish. Obviously there are other factors involved, so more observations required! (Malcolm). This clip is the Osprey beginning to fly south with its catch. Not the best quality, but if you watch in slow motion you can see first how far apart the Osprey's legs are to avoid the Bass' dorsal fin. It then juggles with it trying to get a firm safe hold.
The juvenile Kittiwake had switched to No.1 outflow |
Little Egret 4 - we seem to have a particularly tall one. I couldn't managed a comparison shot, but it looks to be half as big again than the others.
As Little Egret go, this one appears large, probably just a little larger than normal, but with a very dominant pose. The others kept their distance |
Rock Pipit 1 on Red Nab
Linnet 2 on Red Nab and 5 together near the lighthouse.
Three of the five Linnet near the lighthouse |
In the Nature Park
Speckled Wood 5
Meadow Brown 2
Very worn male Meadow Brown |
Red Admiral 2
Peacock 3
Gatekeeper 2
Common Blue 1
Common Carpet |
Middleton Nature Reserve
Some mobile phone shots by Janet
Speckled Wood |
Female Common Darter |
Common Darter pair |