Friday, 11 October 2024

Grey Wagtail ringing effort paying dividends

A light west wind. Dry but cool, despite prolonged sunny spells.

First this from yesterday:
Whinnysty lane - just prior to high tide
single skylark over head, 14 little egrets moving inland, plus Great Crested grebe beyond the groyne - Kevin Singleton 

Turnstone, turning stones

There have been two resent sightings of colour ringed Grey Wagtails (see sidebar for scheme details):
One in south west Wales (Pembroke) 
the other ‘down the road’ at Grimsnargh Wetlands near Longridge (30km SE)
Seen by Mark Breaks today, ringed at Middleton Nature Reserve 18/09/24

North shore (Malcolm)
Just a very quick check of the rocks below the heliport wall.
Common Snipe 11
Lapwing 14
Rock Pipit 2

South shore this morning (Malcolm)
A walk along the sea wall at low water was very pleasant, but not very productive.
Shelduck 43 - these are some of them vacuuming up the small molluscs from the surface of the mud.
Wigeon 15
Little Egret 4
This little Egret came from the north side, rested by the wooden jetty a 
while, then continued south

Grey Heron 1
This Heron was sheltering from the cool west wind and taking advantage
of the warmth from No.1 outfall sides. Warm as it was in full sun, but also
the cooling water behind will be a few degrees warmer than ambient.

Kingfisher 1 flew to No.1 outfall across the mud

Then tried fishing in the pools beside the outfall



Rock Pipit 2

In the Nature Park
No warblers seen or heard
Common Darter 1
Speckled Wood 2
Worn and battered, female Speckled Wood

Middleton Nature Reserve (Malcolm)
I did the same short walk as yesterday, and got the same result as far as the wildfowl goes.
Pair of Gadwall (9 in total)

The only warbler heard was a Cetti's singing
Reed Bunting 1

Migrant Hawker 3
Migrant Hawker

Common Darter 2
Common Darter