A reasonably dry morning with light showers in the afternoon. A light SW wind
South shore (Malcolm) 08:30 - 10:15
A check of the shore out from the saltmarsh, then along the foreshore to Red Nab.
Pink-Footed Goose 48 in three skeins heading south, all before 08:45.
Canada Goose 3 with one of the Pinkfoot skeins
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| Three Canada with Pink-Footed geese |
Shelduck 10
The only waders were
Curlew 30
Oystercatcher 15
Grey Plover 3 south
Redshank 23 on the saltmarsh
Lapwings 7 on the saltmarsh
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| Lapwing |
Little Egret 5 on the saltmarsh and 1 on Red Nab
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| Little Egret and Lapwing |
Carrion Crow at least 29 on the shore, probably more, they were very mobile
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| Some of the Carrion Crows along the saltmarsh fringe |
Linnet numbers continue to grow as the saltmarsh plants start to produce seeds in quantity. At least 90 today on both sides of the saltmarsh and along the foreshore. They usually attract small raptors when there are this many.
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| This pile of flotsam looks quite sterile, but it is alive with Starlings and Linnet |
The above shot is the opening frame of this clip.
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| Linnets |
Grey Wagtail 2 south
Wheatear 3 along the foreshore
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| Wheatear |
Rock Pipit 3 on Red Nab
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| Rock Pipit |
Sandwich Tern 1 on Red Nab
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| Both Meds and a Sandwich Tern |
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| Red Admiral trying to catch as much of the weak sun as it could. |
Middleton Nature Reserve
Cetti's warbler 2 - one singing in both the southern and northern sections - Janet
I did a quick check of the two main ponds (Malcolm)
There were 31 Tufted Duck on the main pond, I was expecting a new high count with whatever there was on the "no swimming" pond. But there was nothing on the "no swimming" pond whatsoever! The water level was dropping, so the regulating pump must have kicked in. That wouldn't disturb the ducks though, they clearly prefer the main pond.
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| Tufted Ducks |
This clip shows just some of the Tufted Ducks. The new fencing preventing disturbance has certainly made a difference.
Also on the Main pond
Mute adult with 7 cygnets
Mallard 15
Gadwall 6
Coot 15
Moorhen 2
Little grebe 1
Cormorant 1
Grey Heron 1
A lot of rain over the next few days, sightings might be thin on the ground.
