Osprey attracts attention

A dry overcast day with a light SE wind.

This fine male Sparrowhawk visited Janet's garden this morning 

South shore - Malcolm 14:00 - 15:30

Whimbrel 1 on the saltmarsh 

Curlew 1 out from the foreshore and 4 on Red Nab

Wheatear at least one along the foreshore 

A pristine looking left profile 

But the right wing feathers are incomplete. Possibly the cause of the disarray 
of some of the underfeathers, or possibly all the result of some trauma.
Although the wind is also ruffling some of the feathers.

Shelduck 4

Mute Swan 6 immature birds around Red Nab

Last years young are often moved on when their parents are breeding again

Shag 1 2nd calendar year bird on the wooden jetty 

2cy Shag

Osprey 1 resting on the wooden jetty

It has a blue ring with white characters. Tantalisingly close to being legible,
unfortunately its right leg was always partially obscured 

This is a location shot. The red arrow to the Shag and the green arrow to the Osprey

I don't know how long the Osprey had been there, but there had been no clamour as I had walked along the sea wall, so it must have been at least 20 minutes. I left to check the inner harbour and it was still there when I returned. Then a Carrion crow flew over and settled on the post next to the Osprey. 

Presumably the Crow is the mate of the one sitting on the nest in the harbour 

Carrion Crow on a nest in the harbour 

The Crows presence alerted the gulls to the Osprey and they began to mob it. But being mobbed is a way of life for an Osprey, and it just waited until they got fed up and left it in peace again.

The gulls all settled close by on the jetty, and the Crow moved on. The Osprey was still on the same post when I was halfway back along the sea wall, after that it was lost from view.

Linnet 3 and Goldfinch 4 near the waterfall 

Rock Pipit 1 near the lighthouse 

Sandwich Tern 6 on one of the buoys out from the north wall

Sandwich Terns

Swallow 1 in/off

Grey Seal 1 out from the harbour 

Silver Y along the sea wall, the "Y" on its wings very distinct

Small Copper in the Nature Park - first this year, but already a bit worn