Plenty of Brent today

A dry day with some sunshine in the morning, but a bitterly cold NW wind. Fresh at first but it eased during the day.

Report by Pete Crooks:

Knowlys Road, Heysham 09:15 – 83 Pale-bellied Brent Geese off the children’s play area, mostly in one flock, but 3, 3 and 5 (family groups?) separated from the main flock and easily overlooked.

Heysham skear - low water 10:30 (Malcolm)

When I arrived at 10:00 a large flock of Pale-bellied Brent geese had just landed in the SE skear corner. More were arriving in smaller groups, presumably they had been flushed from higher up the shore. The main area of sea lettuce in the skear corner remains out reach on these neap tides, so they quickly made their way back up the shore where there is a large patch is fed by a freshwater runoff.

I sat on a rock and watched them pass me by.

When I checked again as I was leaving, they had been joined by 2 Dark-bellied Brent geese.

This area high up the shore, where the Brent are feeding, is fed
by a freshwater runoff, and is currently lush with sea lettuce.

Dark-bellied (left) with Pale-bellied Brent geese

A big increase in Redshank numbers. 200+ including a flock of c180

Redshank

Eider 1 female

Knot c500

Knot hunkered down, out of the biting wind, behind a ridge of mussel shells 

I'd just got into position to check the Knot for rings when a Peregrine
(top right above the hills) lifted everything. The Knot didn't settle again

The light made for some striking views

One of three pairs of eyes Janet's head torch picked up at 
Meldon Rd this evening