Firecrest 1 - seen at 14:50 - reported on birdguides, in fir by car park at ‘south end hey NR’ (near the white barrier that leads to the Nature Park)
Other stuff on the south shore:
Yesterday I couldn't see any waders along the shoreline (Malcolm) and Howard only saw Oystercatcher at the heliport. So today I decided to make a thorough check, and sure enough there was nothing!
Along the waterline from Ocean Edge to the edge of the recording area.
Oystercatcher 94
Curlew 10
Scanning along the waterline further south no other wader species could be seen.
Pink-Footed geese were constantly moving overhead, obviously disoriented by the mist/low cloud. They were flying in all directions, until the mists began to lift and then they headed north. 300+ was the most seen at any one time.
Shelduck 12
Kevin checked the saltmarsh later in the afternoon.
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| Reed Bunting |
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| Curlew |
Middleton Nature Reserve - main pond (Malcolm)
Mute Swan pair plus 1 immature
Gadwall 22
Mallard just 3
Moorhen 5
This male Gadwall seemed pleased to have the opportunity to freshen up.
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| This male Chaffinch (right) is more than just fluffed out, it is huge. It was perched directly above where visitors regularly leave grain for the swans (and rats). Even the Blue Tits seemed curious. |
Heysham Skear (Malcolm)
I went down late afternoon as the ebbing tide was just exposing the inner skear. Having not seen a Knot in two days, I wasn't overly expectant, so was surprised when three groups (500 total) came in and rested while their feeding areas became exposed. A few were coded and two new birds seen.
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| Knot, one with an orange flag. Unfortunately, the rough terrain here was obscuring most of their legs |
Redshank 600
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| Redshank and Oystercatcher |
These high spring tides drain very quickly leaving the small shrimps vulnerable. The Redshank hunt for the shrimps in the shallows. This is just one feeding group, by this time the sun is setting.
Oystercatcher 1,000
Curlew 4
Turnstone 15
Dunlin 12
Ringed Plover 10
Pale-bellied Brent geese 19 flew in low from the south. Possibly had been feeding near the play area. They did find some scraps of weed where they landed, but they seemed more interested in having a drink from the freshwater runoff
Eider 64
Wigeon 23 (later flew off to the north)
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| Wigeon and Eider drakes |
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| Red-breasted Merganser 3 |
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| Great Crested grebe on a red sea |
I said the other day that sunrises here are seldom as splendid as the sunsets. Well, this evening's sunset wasn't one of the best, as there were no clouds to illuminate......
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| .....but it was still good enough to turn everything red! |
