Heysham Nature Reserve
Report by Alan:
This morning I set a couple of nets by the office at Heysham again. Very few birds were caught even though the feeders have required topping up every other day, as the food is being eaten quite quickly.
One Chiffchaff was trapped and at least two were singing in the vicinity.
A female Stonechat was in the reserve car park area and a bright male Brimstone there showed well in the sunshine.
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A good number of toads, both singles and pairs in tandem were in evidence around the office area, presumably making their way to the water bodies for breeding. |
Middleton Nature Reserve (Janet)
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| A ringed Chiffchaff |
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| Greenfinch |
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| Reed Bunting |
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| Great and Long-Tailed Tits |
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| Gadwall |
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| Comma - Kevin |
North shore (Malcolm)
I checked early in the ebbing tide mid morning, as the inner skear was becoming exposed.
Meadow Pipit at least 2 north
Pale-bellied Brent goose 33
Eider 65
Whooper Swan 5 North
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| Whooper Swans |
Oystercatcher 1,000
Curlew 20
Knot 3,000 resting at first then many went to feed on the muddy shore, presumably as their favoured shrimps are not readily available. These neap tides drain too slowly to leave shrimps stranded and the offshore wind did not muddy the water along the margins.
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| Knot on the shore with a few Redshank in the water behind |
Dunlin 80
Turnstone 35
Redshank 250 - these were finding areas to shrimp where draining water was muddying the sea slightly.
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| Redshank and Dunlin looking for shrimps |
At least 5 wheatear coastal lancs today, something to look out for.
