The drakes are overwhelming the ducks, plus another Stonechat

Overcast, but mild with a light variable breeze.

Middleton Nature Reserve main pond - Janet

Still two pairs of Shoveler

The male Mallards wouldn't leave this female alone

Cormorant 

Imperial Rd

I checked just after lunch - Malcolm

Water Rail 1 squealing

Mallard pair

No Stonechats seen.

Janet checked mid afternoon 

Stonechat 1 male

North shore

Shag 1 off the skear - David Kaye

I checked the skear twice today (feeling fresh, well not as tiered, after not managing a walk yesterday) Malcolm

10:00 - 12:00

Mute Swan 1 immature flew north

Pale-bellied Brent goose 35. 8 seen flying to the fishing platform rocks where they joined others. Later all 35 flew back to feed around the skear.

Pink-Footed goose 22 to SE

Eider 88 - these are just some of them. The males displaying, but it all seems relatively amicable.

Wigeon 4

Red-breasted Merganser 4 - another female with more suiters than she probably wants, although I always get the impression that the males are more intent on impressing each other than impressing the female.

Little Egret 2

Oystercatcher 800

Curlew 20

Redshank 120

Turnstone 40

Knot, initially there were just 100 scattered around, then a flock of 1200 arrived from the north. Not many were flagged but there were some new birds.

This lime flag is part of a Wash scheme. JAC. I couldn't help but say "Hi Jac"
 No reaction, probably heard it before!

I returned this afternoon at 14:30

The or a immature Mute Swan was to the south of the skear

The Wigeon were resting along the waterline 

The Brent geese were scattered over a rapidly greening skear

There were more Redshank 200, and Turnstone 80.

c500 knot were around in several small flocks, I managed tho check the largest (200) for flags but there were none. I was just heading off when large numbers began arriving. There ended up being three flocks, totalling 2400. The light was going, as was my stamina! But I headed back. I checked a flock of 900, but could only find 4 flagged birds. Partially down to the fading light, but mainly as not many were flagged. Fortunately two were new for this winter.

This are some coming in to land