Just my stuff again so far (Malcolm), at least one of the observation team was snowed in!
Heysham skear - low water 09:20
I wasn't planning on going out here today, but it was fine at the right time so I went for a look.
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| The light was strange, and the view unfamiliar. Low cloud to the west was hiding the inland hills. Partial snow cover on the lowland shore providing a different vista. |
Pale-bellied Brent geese 13 along the northern edge of the skear, the higher shore to the south not checked.
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| Some of the brent geese....... |
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| ......and their location you can make out the Hoad Monument at Ulverston on the background hill |
Red-breasted Merganser 1 and Cormorants several, were was only other birds seen on the sea other than gulls.
Oystercatcher 1,500
Curlew 50
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| Two of the Curlew, they can quite difficult to see in this terrain |
Grey Plover 2 - likely displaced by the weather, they are not regular here.
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| Grey Plover can be almost impossible to spot in this terrain |
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| The other Grey Plover is in this shot |
Knot 250 in very loose groups, spreading the birds thinly all across the skear.
Redshank 120 minimum
Turnstone 20
Ringed Plover 1
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| Ringed Plover, a bit unusual just seeing one by itself here |
Middleton Nature Reserve
Just a quick passing check of the main pond saw the addition of a pair of Shoveler.
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| The drake with his head tucked in the whole time |
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| Similarly with the duck...... |
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| .......but she did swim back to be closer to the drake |
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| Shoveler and Gadwall pairs (and a Black-Headed gull) |
The waterlogged field next to the horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall was busy. All these birds are just beyond the recording area, but are viewed from Middleton Road which is the recording area boundary here.
Pied Wagtail 3
Green Sandpiper 1
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| Green Sandpiper and Pied Wagtails |
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| Green Sandpiper |
The sandpiper was clearly finding plenty to eat. It quickly finishes off a worm in the clip.
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| Redwing |
