A heavy shower first thing, and another early evening. In between it was dry with plenty of sunshine. A light SW wind.
South shore
I checked from the saltmarsh to No.2 outfall (Malcolm) 09:30 - 10-30
I had planned to go further, but had got the tide times mixed up (I used a 2024 tide table! It just shows that even when you think you know the tide time you should always watch what the sea is doing to confirm, everyone makes mistakes)
Swallow 4 south over the saltmarsh
Grey Plover 2 out from the saltmarsh
 |
| Grey Plover |
Robin 1 by the saltmarsh
 |
| There hasn't been a Robin here since early spring |
 |
| Wheatear |
Later, Janet had a walk along the sea wall
The four Rock Pipits were finding small insects and fighting each other
 |
| Rock Pipits |
 |
| Cormorants on the wooden jetty |
 |
| Cormorants |
 |
| Curlew |
 |
| Common Darters on the newt pond |
 |
| Small Tortoiseshell |
 |
| A tatty looking White, probably a Large |
I checked to the south of the saltmarsh around high water (Malcolm)
At 9.6m there is only a narrow strip of shingles remaining. I was hoping to locate a Curlew Sandpiper, probably hoping too hard!
There were two small groups of Ringed Plover 28 in total. One group landed to the north of me and were easy to see with the sun shining on them. As well as the Ringed Plover there were 3 Dunlin and a Sanderling
 |
| Sanderling with Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin |
 |
| Also Sanderling with Ringed Plovers and Dunlin |
Another group was to the south of me with the light behind them, at first I thought they included 2 Curlew Sandpiper, but they too turned out to be Sanderling, so 3 in total.
 |
| Sanderling |
 |
| Two Sanderling with Ringed Plover and Dunlin |
 |
| Two of the six Dunlin in total |
I did manage to see one sandpiper. Common Sandpiper, briefly on the rocky outcrop just south of the saltmarsh
 |
| Common Sandpiper |
 |
| Curlew |
Middleton Nature Reserve
The male Mute Swan, injured by a dog attack, it to return home tomorrow, by the sound of the following e-mail he has been as disruptive at the Sanctuary as he often is on the main pond......
Good afternoon guys. As some have met me but most haven't.. I'm Col from Bella's legacy Wildlife Rescue.. I was contacted by Jo Bailey reguarding the psychotic Swan now called "Swanable Hector" that was subject to a dog attack almost a fortnight ago...
After what can only be described as a top tackle only performed by scrum halfs, he was carried to the car for a full examination.. Where he was given pain relief..
Apart from possible muscle & tendon/ligament soft tissue injuries, the visible injuries was upper wing (Feathers & abrasions, & lower wing where it had been dragging on the floor..
That was treated with a colloid dressing & manuka honey and his wing strapped up..
Fast forward 10 days of crate rest & strapped up wing & I've now got the terrifying experience of taking the strapping off (getting bitten, hissed at & no doubt wing slapped).. I will put some pics up later either of Swanable Hector wing stretching or of me in A&E...
But he will be coming home tomorrow... (🙏 thank the lord🙏)....🦢🦢🤕🤕...
An excellent e-mail and a job well done! Hopefully he will be more subdued now, but it doesn't sound like he will be in the best of moods when he returns.
Just out of the recording area. Black Tern - river Lune estuary
