Monday 28 October 2024

I'd like to say it wasn't a washout, but........

There was fine rain/low cloud all day. A light SW wind.

Heysham skear - low water 15:30 (Malcolm)
It was definitely fine rain as I walked out, although the clouds were almost at ground level.
This is looking past Heysham Head towards the harbour and Power Stations

There were no feeding hoards of gulls over the sea today 
Little Egret 6
Eider 2
Red-breasted Merganser 1
Great Crested grebe 3
Great Crested grebe

By the time I'd got as far as the tide allowed, the rain eased and the clouds
were lifting - I could see half of the Power Stations now.

Wader numbers similar to yesterday, although less Knot today at 750. Just one colour coded bird was seen.  Unfortunately, as the rain stopped a Peregrine Falcon began hunting and continually lifted the small waders.
Knot, Redshank and Oystercatcher 

Also Knot, Redshank and Oystercatcher 

Curlew and Redshank

The clouds were getting lower again and the Peregrine had just pushed all the waders away from me. It was time to leave.
This is the same view as the first shot, albeit from the other side of the skear.
The light rain had begun again as I got back to my car.

Middleton Nature Reserve (Malcolm)
I just called in briefly on my way home.
There were no Gadwall today.
Tufted Duck 7
Mallard 14
Little grebe 1
Mute, Coot and Moorhen unchanged

Cetti's warbler 1 singing by the "no swimming" pond