It remained dry with sunny spells until late afternoon when the rain started. The SE wind freshened all day and ended up being strong.
South shore
I checked from the saltmarsh to Red Nab on the rising tide this morning (Malcolm)
Pale-bellied Brent goose 31 flew to Red Nab from the south side.
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| They happily fly and swim together, but when they start feeding bickering breaks out as they split into small, presumably family, groups |
Shelduck 8
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| Shelduck |
Wigeon 160
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| Wigeon |
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| Little Egret |
Rock Pipit 1
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| Rock Pipit |
Janet checked this afternoon on the ebb tide
The Pale-bellied Brent geese were back on Red Nab, today's high water would have moved them on. Later they flew back to the south side.
Moorhen 4 in the Nature Park.
Imperial Rd (Malcolm)
There were only a few Carrion Crows flying around. It would seem the interlopers have been seen off.
Water Rail 2 squealing
Stonechat 1 male, again quite a distance from the road
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| Male Stonechat |
1 male Kestrel hunting
Heliport/Near Naze (Malcolm)
I should have checked here before checking Imperial Rd. When I did arrive at 09:45 there were c700 Knot on the Near Naze. But the tide was already high and rising quickly. It moved them on before I could complete a full check for any flagged birds. I only saw one.
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| Knot being moved off the Near Naze rocks |
The Knot resettled on the Heliport wall and the rocks below, where they mixed with Redshank, Common Snipe, Lapwing, Turnstone, at least one Dunlin and of course Oystercatchers.
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| A good mix of waders, all of the above in this shot. But you will have to open the image to see the detail |
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| Oystercatchers carpeting the bulk of the heliport wall |
Heysham skear (Malcolm) 14:00 - 15:00
The forecast rain was approaching quickly and it was already getting murky.
Little Egret 4
Eider 46
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| Little Egret and Eider |
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| Cormorant and Eider |
Shag 2 juveniles
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| Juvenile Shag |
There had been just 30 Knot around, I was about to leave when another 500 arrived from the north. By this time it was positively gloomy and the strengthening wind making it difficult to remain still. I may as well have left, the Knot settled in rubbly terrain, I glimpsed a couple of flagged birds, but no chance of reading them.
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| A typical view of this afternoon's (it felt like evening) Knot. By the time I got back to my car the rain arrived. |
