South shore (Janet)
A walk along the sea wall at low water.
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| Shelduck on Red Nab |
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| Heron hunting by No.2 outfall |
North shore
Pete checked the sea this morning.
Eider 311 between Sunnyslopes groyne and the Stone Jetty (a further 101 to the north of the jetty)
I went down to check the skear for Knot on the ebb tide this morning. Just in time to see a Peregrine take a Redshank and flush all the Knot.
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| Carrion Crow and an Oystercatcher mobbing the Peregrine after it took a Redshank |
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| But it was too late! |
Oystercatcher 2,500
Curlew 40
Redshank 200 (199)
Knot 100 remained
Dunlin 10
Turnstone 35
Ringed Plover 6
This clip shows how eager the waders are to feed on the skear as soon as it becomes exposed. This thin strip is soon occupied by Redshank, Oystercatcher and Turnstone as the tide slowly ebbs.
Pale-bellied Brent goose 36 minimum
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| They were seen flying both south and north. There is a skeer forming out from the Battery, I suspect that they are feeding there when the tide allows. I'll have to go and have a look. |
I returned early evening for another look.
Pink-Footed goose 24 east
There were now about 1,000 Knot but very flighty (who could blame them). A few flagged birds were seen but reading was difficult in the fading light.
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| This was just before 17:00. Time to leave them in peace |
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| This is what it looked like by the time I'd got back to the promenade |
Just out of the recording area
Green Sandpiper in the horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall - Pete
Stonechat - the darker bird was on the sunnyslopes this morning (Malcolm). The lady gardener said that she hadn't seen the paler one for a couple of days.
