Some normality returns

A light west wind in the morning freshened as it moved to SE. The threatened rain managed to hold off till mid afternoon.

Heysham skear (Malcolm) 08:45 - 10:15

Eider 13

Great Crested grebe 8

Two of the grebes were juveniles 

Little Egret 5

Grey Heron 2

Grey Heron 

Cormorants - there are always several around, but today there were two adults each with a juvenile in tow.

Adult and juvenile Cormorants 

Shag at least 1 juvenile fishing on the north side of the skear

Gulls 150 mainly Herring, but increasing numbers of Black-Headed

This adult ringed in 2019 at the Ribble estuary was the only ringed bird seen today.
This was the first one I saw here this spring, it was absent during the breeding
season, but I have seen it a few times since.

This Carrion Crow was constantly being chased by the young gulls. It seemed to be "enjoying" itself, as if it really wanted what it had it would have flown off with it.

It isn't clear what the Crow has, but it looks more man made than edible!

Oystercatcher 600 - originally I had 300 noted then a Peregrine lifted all the closer in waders and it was obvious that I had woefully underestimated 

Curlew 30

Redshank 70

Turnstone 60

Juvenile Turnstone 

Red Nab (Malcolm) 15:00

The imminent heavy rain had held off, and I just had time to check the gulls before it started

This is one of the juvenile Herring gulls ringed at the Power Station this year

Mediterranean gull 13

Two of the Meds were ringed (both also seen in Friday's high count). This
one is a veteran, ringed in the Netherlands in 2010, it has been seen at 
Heysham every year since 2013. It clearly knows the ropes.

The juveniles are moulting to first winter plumage now

Then it started pouring down, but it was good to see a more typical assemblage on Red Nab again.