Too wet for the ducks!

If there was ever a day ideal for watching rain, today was that day! It rained constantly all day. Kevin's weather station recorded 27cm of rain during today's daylight hours! A light SE breeze.

I don't normally mind walking in the rain (Malcolm). But the tide was out for much of the day and the wind insignificant. I couldn't think of anywhere for a productive walk. So I just did two quick tours in my car, this morning and again this afternoon.

Imperial Rd

Common Buzzard 1

Grey Heron 1

Knowsley Rd

No Brent geese could be seen on either visit.

Heysham Cricket Club

There were no Mistle thrushes on the adjacent football pitch today, but Black-Headed Gulls and five Jackdaws had joined the Oystercatchers

Black-Headed Gulls, Oystercatcher and Jackdaws

This Stock Dove was on the cricket field

Middleton Nature Reserve - main pond

This morning the wildfowl seemed to be as usual 

Mute Swan 1 female plus 6 cygnets 

Mallard c30

Tufted Duck 8

Gadwall 6

Coot 10

Moorhen 4

Tufted Duck and Coot

Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Coot, Black-Headed gull and a cygnet's bottom

Cormorant 

There were also 30 plus gulls, Herring and Black-Headed

When I returned this afternoon the pond looked deserted. There were still Mallard around the fringes, but there were noTufted and no Gadwall, and the gulls had moved on too.

Hopefully things will be a bit brighter tomorrow.