The wind provided some interest

Strong overnight SW winds eased slightly as it shifted more westerly. A few showers, but nothing prolonged.

Seawatch - Pete

from Knowlys road ‘wave troughing’ 1020-1050: 

Gannet 5 out

Common scoter Drake out

Sanderling 3 together out 

Bonxie-like skua very distantly into bay from back of harbour 1209.

South shore - Malcolm 09:00 - 10:30

Wheatear 1 flew across the saltmarsh 

Rock Pipit 1 each foreshore and Red Nab

Mediterranean gull 2 first calendar year on Red Nab with Black-Headed gulls

1cy Mediterranean gull centre with a 1cy Black-Headed gull in front

Bothe Meds in this shot

Waders on Red Nab

Oystercatcher c300

Curlew 15

Redshank 17

Turnstone 11

Ringed Plover 3

Another Turnstone further along the sea wall

One of the larger ferries dwarfing the wooden jetty

Providing a nice backdrop to view the Cormorants 

Unfortunately, I failed to sea anything else on the sea!

In the Nature Park

Speckled Wood 4

Small White 3

Large White 1

Male Small White

Male Large White

A request for help 

I took these shots on Middleton Nature Reserve yesterday (Malcolm). I didn't want to show them until I had spoken to Phil Reddell who is responsible for the maintenance and development of the reserve. 

This is Himalayan Balsam, as the name suggests, not a native species. They are a very
vigorous growing annual wetland plant. They grow to 2m in height and their mature seed
pods explode, sending seeds for many metres.

They were in two areas of the western marsh near the ringing road. I have not seen any on the reserve before, but Phil said that he first saw them here last year, and has no idea how they became established in what is a relatively isolated area. He has been uprooting any that he sees and has encouraged me and anyone else who sees them to do the same. He has also asked that if anyone sees them in other areas of the reserve to let him know.

preddell@lancswt.org.uk   

Most were around the recently heavily strimmed area around the new ponds
in the NE corner of the western marsh. If left unchecked this diverse area will
become a 2m high monoculture!