A freshening SE wind. Overcast all day but it managed to remain dry till evening.
South shore (Malcolm) 09:00 - 10:30
Linnet 112 seen, there were probably more
Shelduck 119 feeding all along the shore out from Ocean Edge
 |
| Just a few of the Shelduck |
Kingfisher 1 flew up the sloping sea wall from Red Nab then along the perimeter fence towards the Nature Park.
 |
| Not the greatest of shots but nice to see |
 |
| Plenty of gulls on No.2 outfall, but almost all Black-Headed gulls |
 |
| Cormorant drying its feathers |
I went along the wall when the tide was out to check the feeding beach by the wooden jetty. It was pretty much deserted, just 4 adult Mediterranean gulls at the seaward end.
 |
| Mediterranean gull with a white ring, far too distant to read |
Rock Pipit 3
 |
| Rock Pipit on Red Nab |
Middleton Nature Reserve (Malcolm)
Just a passing check. The water level on the "no swimming" pond is still high, but that doesn't explain why it was duckless today. The diving birds can still find food. Clearly they prefer the main pond when disturbance is minimal. I made these counts and took the pictures while sat on the bench by the bottom car park.
Cormorants 2
Mute Swan female with 7 cygnets
Tufted Duck 34
Mallard 12
Gadwall 7
Coot 12
Moorhen 2
Little grebe 1
 |
| Female Tufted Duck |
This clip provides just a flavour of the abundant wildfowl on the main pond. It's a Cormorant that flies across the frame.
And that was it for the day, I don't have much time at the weekend. But I can normally enjoy watching the birds on my garden feeders. Not today, this Sparrowhawk left the garden deserted all afternoon!
