Heysham skear (Malcolm). 09:00 - 10:15
Osprey 1 - I hadn't reached the inner skear when all the gulls on the outer skear lifted.
 |
| Gulls taking flight over the outer skear |
For once I managed to locate the distant speck causing the clamour.
 |
| Highly zoomed and cropped Osprey. It was to the west of the skear heading south, and must have continued as the gulls quickly settled. |
It was heavy going today, the recent westerlies have been depositing mud over the mussels. So the mussels move higher to continue filter feeding. The upshot is thickening unconsolidated mud with a thin crust of mussels.
 |
| This is one of the better areas, it wasn't practical to stop at the worse ones. You can see the mussels just showing through the mud. It isn't dangerous as the stone surface isn't far below. But it makes for difficult walking. |
 |
| The last time I was here this vista was black with mussels. They are still there but partially covered in the mud from the last tide |
No Eider seen
Red-breasted Merganser 6 - what seemed to be two pairs plus lone male and a lone female type.
 |
| Red-breasted Mergansers |
Great Crested grebe 2 together
 |
| Great crested grebes |
Little Egret 4
Oystercatcher 300, but there would have been more on the outer skear
Curlew 9 at least
Gulls - at least 500 on the outer skear
Middleton Nature Reserve (Janet)
 |
| One of two House Martins |
 |
| Speckled Wood |
 |
| Silver Y |
 |
| Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnets |
 |
| There is just a single Mullien caterpillar on the Mullien plant near Tim Butler |
 |
| Spotted Orchids sp |
 |
| There is a Diamond-back moth on the bottom of the right hand bloom |
 |
| Hare's foot Inkcap |
Imperial Rd (Malcolm)
Just a quick evening check as a light shower was ending.
No Buzzard or Stonechat seen
Swift 1 and Swallow 3 adult
Reed Buntings calling
The only warblers seen or heard were Chiffchaff and Sedge.
 |
| Sedge warbler a bit more subtle today |
Little Egret 5 flew over together to NE
 |
| Little Egret |
