A colder night resulting in ice on ground water, but the ponds remained ice free. Another sunny day bit it barely got above 5°C with the cool NW breeze
Imperial Rd (Malcolm) 09:00 - 09:45
Buzzards here have been notable for their absence since spring, but today there were two constantly calling and flying around.
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| One coming in to land besides a calling bird |
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| These are the trees along the edge of the bypass |
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| Common Buzzard |
Water Rail at least 2 squealing and making contact calls
Cetti's warbler 1
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| Cetti's warbler |
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| Wren |
I was here longer than usual this morning as I couldn't relocate the Stonechats. I had almost given up when I located both of them close to the bypass
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| The male was feeding low down amongst the bushes and brambles |
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| The female was checking out all the crevices in the pylon. It is difficult for insect eaters to find enough to eat in cold conditions |
Middleton Nature Reserve
Green Woodpecker- Kevin Eaves
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| Green Woodpecker |
The female Mute Swan was on the "no swimming" pond with 2 of her cygnets. The other 4 were on the main pond.
No other wildfowl on the "no swimming" pond.
Main Pond
Tufted Duck 6
Gadwall 10
Mallard c30
Coot 14
Moorhen 4
Black-Headed gulls 110
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| Some of the Black-Headed gulls on the main pond. The current cold spell ends tomorrow, but this pond is always worth checking if it ever freezes over, the gull numbers seem to increase here and they stand on the ice, revealing if any have coded rings. |
Redwing 1 glimpsed
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| This Robin was eating Hawthorn berries. It is difficult for insect eaters, in cold weather! |
Heysham skear (Malcolm) 13:00 - 14:45
I didn't have much time this afternoon so I went very early as the tide was ebbing. It was interesting watching the waders arriving.
Redshank 170
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| 134 Redshank on this groyne were joined by others that arrived as mainly single birds from the south |
Oystercatcher 800+ were constantly arriving in groups of around 30 from the south
Knot 3,000 - several small flocks arrived totalling 500, then later than usual in the tide, a large flock of 2,500 also arrived from the south
Curlew not seen
Turnstone 30 arrived from the north and south
Pale-bellied Brent goose at least 10 out from the play area
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| Pale-bellied Brent geese |
Eider 28
Red-breasted Merganser 1
Shag 3 juveniles
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| Shag and Eider |
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| All three Shag in this shot |
Little Egret 4
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| Little Egret with muddy feet |
There were an awful lot of Black-Headed gulls drifting out with the tide.
Nature Park (Janet)
One large Roe deer just ran out in front of me and my dog, it was followed by a Cocker Spaniel which ran in the opposite direction!!!