Jack Snipe bonus

The overnight rain eased by mid morning, then mainly dry. A light SE wind.

Heysham Nature Reserve 

This is an extract from Pete Crook's report from Sunday, posted on the LDBWS website 

1 Cetti’s Warbler – calling at the west end of the reed-bed (1st one I can recall hearing here, but surely ought to be resident)
2 Chiffchaff (heard)
2 Blackcap – females near the ringing ride
1 male Sparrowhawk – flew along the ringing ride
15+ Blackbird – spread around the reserve
1 Mistle Thrush – singing from one of the electricity pylons

If you would like to see the full report plus others there is a link on the sidebar, or use this link.

https://lancasterbirdwatching.org.uk/sightings/

Heysham skear (Malcolm) 10:15 10:45

It was still raining at this point. As I set off a flock of 500 Knot were heading south pursued by a Peregrine Falcon. Another flock of 400 settled again on the skear only to be lifted and also chased south by a Peregrine. The only Knot remaining were three or four small groups less than 50 birds in total.

Shag 1 flew south

Pale-Bellied Brent goose 7 - they were resting on the waterline out from the play area, but the commotion with the Knot lifted them briefly.

Brent geese landing again on the waterline

South shore (Malcolm) 13:00 - 14:30

A walk along the sea wall 2.5hr before high water. I was expecting the Brent geese to fly to Red Nab c13:30, but 10 arrived just after 13:00.

Perhaps something flushed them early from the north side, or it may just
be that the early season gutweed on Red Nab is just too lush to be ignored.

Shelduck 25

Wigeon 100+

Wigeon resting on the sloping sea wall

Cormorants and at least two Shag on the wooden jetty

This shot is from the end of the sea wall there is a Shag, either
side of the central Cormorant 

this shot is looking back from the lighthouse just a few minutes later,
just one Shag remains 

When I was almost back to Red Nab there was a juvenile Shag just out from the sea wall. The water was now too deep for it to feed by snorkelling, but presumably it had been.

First calendar year Shag

Grey Seal 1 also between No.2 outfall and Red Nab

Grey Seal

I was hoping to check the waterline for waders, but a scan from the shore showed there were just a few Oystercatchers for as far as you could see.

The waterline devoid of waders

Jack Snipe 1 accidentally flushed as I walked around the edge of the saltmarsh. It was along the northern edge where groundwater seeps to the surface, it landed again near the eastern edge. I specifically checked the saltmarsh for Jack Snipe in the recent series of spring tides, without a sign, I wasn't expecting one on today's low neap tide. Definitely a bonus!