Heysham skear - low water 14:40 (Malcolm)
Common Scoter 6 were feeding just south of the skear when I reached the waterline. Most of the time they were just swimming around, but when one dived, they all dived. I was going to take a video of them diving, but at that point the only shower of the afternoon began. Later when I was further out I took this clip, mainly to show the location, by this time they were out from Heysham Head and had stopped feeding.
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| Common Scoter out from Heysham Head |
Pale-bellied Brent geese 18 at least. There were 14 feeding in the SE skear corner as I walked out plus another 4 on the north side. As I was leaving the 4 on the north side were still there and at least 14 on the south side.
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| No need for competition for food here, there is still plenty of sea lettuce and gutweed. They were feeding in small separate groups, in this case two adults and a juvenile. |
Great Crested grebe 1
Little Egret 7
Waders as recent except there were c1,000 Knot today.
The Knot were settled on the skear, but as soon as the rain stopped a Peregrine Falcon attacked them.
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| In this shot, you can just make out an orange ring on its left leg |
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| This was in between attack one and two. The orange ring is clearer here, but unfortunately still too distant to read it. |
After the third, presumably successful, attack the Knot began settling again, although they remained flighty.
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| This one got away without being read, although I probably did read it later as I eventually managed to read several |
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| The sun was setting quickly turning both the Knot and the skear red. |
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| These are some of the Brent on the north side. Even at this distance you can see that at least one is still feeding. |
Pink-Footed geese 2 skeins south over my house (Malcolm). A largish skein at 17:50 and a smaller one at 18:00.
