A very cold NE fresh wind. Light showers on and off all day.
Just my stuff so far today (Malcolm). There was "light" rain all the while I was out. Technically it wasn't heavy rain, but it was wind driven and stinging!
Heysham skear 09:30
I went to see if the Knot were still around, but there wasn't one as the skear was becoming exposed. I couldn't see any Brent geese either. 10 Eider on the sea and a couple of Little Egrets were the only birds other than the usual waders.
Middleton Nature Reserve main pond 10:00
Mute Swan female with 6 cygnets flying around.
Mallard c25
Tufted Duck 8
Gadwall 8
Little Grebe 1
Coot 13
Moorhen 2
Cormorant 2
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| Gadwall pair plus Little grebe |
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| Tufted Duck |
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| Cormorants, Mallard and a Coot |
Imperial Rd 10:15
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| Pink-Footed geese flying silently into the wind |
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| Little Egret |
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 flew towards the copse
Wood Pigeon 8 including 2 juveniles
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| Juvenile Wood Pigeon (front) with adult |
South shore 10:30 - 11:00
A walk from the saltmarsh to No.2 outfall and back through the Nature Park.
Sparrowhawk 1 flew across the saltmarsh, the only passerines seen were 8 Starlings
Shelduck 80. It was still raining and my camera was stashed away. As I fumbled to get it out I inadvertently set it to monochrome, it was such a grey day that I didn't notice!
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| Shelduck feeding out from the foreshore. Even if I had been in glorious Technicolour, the only colour would be the Shelduck's red bill and brown bib. |
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| They feed a while filtering snails and other invertebrates from the mud, then head for one of the freshwater runoffs for a drink |
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| Perhaps understandable not noticing the Little Egret was in monochrome |
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| But I should have noticed with a Curlew, although B&W does produce interesting contrasts |
Wigeon 50+ keeping out of the wind along the inner face of No.2 outfall
Chiffchaff calling in the Nature Park
I did a passing check in the afternoon from Knowlys Rd, I still couldn't seen any Knot or Brent geese.
Camera reset for colour pictures again tomorrow. Hopefully there will be something worth photographing.
Footnote:
Juvenile kittiwake on outfalls reported on Lancaster wildlife and nature group