Egrets instinctively know how to fish. But they have to learn to be fearful. Unfortunately, we soon teach them.

A warm, dry and sunny day. A light west wind.

South shore (Malcolm)

I checked twice today, in the morning as the incoming tide was reaching Red Nab, and this afternoon as the ebbing tide was uncovering the beach by the wooden jetty.

Mediterranean gulls 9 - this morning there were just two adults. This afternoon seven adults, a 2nd and a 3rd calendar year ended up on the beach by the jetty.

3rd calendar year Med waiting on the sea for the feeding beach to be exposed

Two adult and a 2nd calendar year Mediterranean gull
You can see that the Sandmason worm tubes are more prominent 

The only ringed bird was the one seen on Thursday, we now have an updated 
history. It has been seen since it left us last year, at Asturias Spain in January.

Surprisingly, there was no Peregrine disturbance today

This Black-Headed gull hs some sort of infection on its foot - looks painful!

Curlew 100+ scattered around this morning, 240 headed to north side this afternoon 

Just a few of the Curlew 

Common Sandpiper 1 flew across Red Nab this morning 

Rock Pipit 2 adult above the lighthouse nest site

Rock Pipit

Wheatear - the juvenile was seen by the saltmarsh on both visits.

Juvenile Wheatear looking more mature each day

Little Egret just 2 today. This immature bird hasn't learned to be wary of people yet, I was less than 10m away but it waked closer to me. But it knew how to catch shrimps, three in quick succession at the end of this clip.

A small Shrimp disappearing into a Little Egret

There were plenty of butterflies around the saltmarsh 

Common Blue

Small Tortoiseshell 

Gatekeeper 

Also: Small White and  Ringlet. Plus several Silver Y which were also seen along the sea wall.

In the Nature Park.

This Blackbird seemed to be enjoying the afternoon sun. I wondered if it was anting, but I checked when it moved on and there were no ants.

Young Robin and a Dunnock collecting grit from a freshly laid path

Chiffchaff 

Butterflies included:

Speckled Wood, Common Blue, Ringlet, Comma, Meadow Brown and the first Peacock seen for a while.

Middleton Nature Reserve (Malcolm)

Just a quick afternoon check of the main pond

Little grebe

Grey Heron, Mallard and an unusually tolerant male Mute Swan

Red-Veined Darter probably two

This one was near to where the swans rest on the west bank

Probably another patrolling over the pond

Common Darter 2

Black-Tailed Skimmer 2 males

Emperor 1 male

Butterflies included:

Speckled Wood, Large White, Small White, Green-Veined White, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Red Admiral.