Heysham skear (Malcolm)
Two visits again, first this morning as the tide covered the skear and again this afternoon when it uncovered.
Pale-bellied Brent goose 19 this morning, none this afternoon
Pink-Footed goose 12 to NW
 |
| Pink-Footed geese this morning |
Eider 25
Shoveler 3 males drifted in with the tide this morning.
 |
| Shoveler |
Red-breasted Merganser 11
Great Crested Grebe 6
 |
| Many of the grebes now in summer plumage |
Oystercatcher 1,500
Curlew 30
Redshank 250
Turnstone 80
Dunlin 6
Ringed Plover 4
 |
| Two Ringed Plover here |
Knot 2,500 - this morning there were 2,000 resting on the outer skear before being moved on by the tide, some stopped briefly on the shore and I managed to read a few flags. This evening was a bonus, the unexpectedly (unexpected by me at least) fresh west wind stirred up the shallows and brought the shrimps in. 2,500 Knot arrived as soon as the skear was exposed.
 |
| Some of this afternoon's Knot with a nice view of the Lake District |
Feeding was frantic and the tide was ebbing quickly, making for difficult viewing. Still some more flags were read.
 |
| Even when you manage a clear view, you can't always read the flag this one has acquired a blob of something on both sides of its flag |
 |
| All the more rewarding when you do get a clear reading. This is another Merseyside flagged bird. It was seen here in December hopefully it has also been recorded somewhere else in between |
Middleton Nature Reserve (Janet)
 |
| The female Mute Swan has almost finished nest building |
South shore
 |
| Janet checked early in the tide there was little happening. Little Egret out from the foreshore |
I checked just before high water (Malcolm)
The tide had almost covered Red Nab but still plenty of wildfowl.
Pale-bellied Brent goose 22 - probably including this morning's 19
 |
| Pale-bellied Brent geese |
Wigeon 220
Shelduck 4
 |
| This female Great Spotted Woodpecker had just come in/off the sea. She rested in the trees behind Red Nab a while before continuing north |
