Meds on the increase again

 A dry, but mainly overcast day. A light west breeze.

South shore - Malcolm 10:15 - 11:30

A walk along the sea wall not long after low water

Osprey 1 

It had caught a fish and was eating it on the post at the seaward end of
No.2 outfall. Initially looked over by a Carrion Crow

It fed for 30 minutes then flew off to the NW

Mediterranean gulls 25 - 1 2nd calendar year, 2 3rd calendar year, the rest adult

There were 16 adult and a 2cy on the feeding beach by the wooden jetty. I said yesterday that I only ever hear them calling when they first return in full breeding plumage. I was wrong! Today the 2cy was calling as it chased away encroaching birds. When the feeding here is good they do bicker over feeding patches. Some ringed birds are often seen on the exact same patch every year. It is worth noting that the "patch" that this 2cy bird is defending, is where it was in yesterday's shot.

We are not quite at the "patch working" stage yet. I didn't see any
Sandmason worms caught, but the gulls were trying 

Adult Med and 2cy Common Gull

The remaining Meds were resting/preening on the beach between the outfalls.

Some of the resting Meds. It was good to see the Meds acting normally,
in previous years a passing Osprey cleared the beaches. Perhaps they are
becoming more relaxed about them now that they are more regular 

Middleton Nature Reserve southern section - Janet

Just a short exercise walk

Meadow Brown

Ringlet

Six-spot Burnet

Red Soldier Beetle