First Wheatear, first moth and more Chiffs

Sunshine in the morning but becoming increasingly overcast in the afternoon then light rain in the evening. A light variable breeze

Two Chiffchaffs were along Kingsway - Janet

This one has matted feathers on its forehead, the result of feeding on
nectar (pollen horn)

Middleton Nature Reserve - Janet

At least two more Chiffchaffs on the southern section 

Buzzard 1 being mobbed by Carrion Crows

Common Buzzard

The butterflies were enjoying the morning sun

Comma

Peacock

Also seen, Brimstone and Small Tortoiseshell 

Saltmarsh to Red Nab - Janet

The saltmarsh Wigeon took flight.....

.......but didn't go far

Wheatear 1 foraging along the foreshore rocks as it quickly moved through. First of the spring 

Rock Pipit 1

Rock Pipit

Pale-bellied Brent geese getting ready to leave Red Nab.
Kevin Eaves counted 30

Heysham skear - Malcolm 08:30 - 10:00

Pale-bellied Brent goose 6, likely included in those at Red Nab later

Eider 40+

Red-breast Merganser 9

Great Crested grebe 5

Little Egret 4

Oystercatcher 800

Curlew 10

Redshank 200

Knot 250

Turnstone 80

Dunlin 20

Common Snipe 1

Pied Wagtail 1 in/off

Heliport

These shots by Kevin Singleton yesterday 

Little Egret

Common Snipe

Yesterday, the Knot were showing well and there were a number of
flagged birds. Kevin managed to read two. It was a different story today.....

Once again c3000 Knot roosted on the heliport, but it was so calm today that they remained on the sloping wall above the flat sea.

Knot on the sloping sea wall.

I checked these (Malcolm) and couldn't see any flagged birds, although most were covered by others. When Howard checked later the Knot had moved amongst the Oystercatcher making checking for flags impossible, although he did manage one that was briefly on top of the wall.

I returned when the tide was leaving the sea wall. 500 Knot moved to the waterline to feed and freshen up. These are some of them freshening up, there is rainwater runoff cascading down the wall in the corner, and it drains out to here. The wind was nowhere near as strong as it sounds.

Some were probing the soft mud for molluscs, but others were supplementing their diet with gutweed.

Of the 500 only two were flagged.

This one ringed at Dyfi Estuary Wales in 2021

Unfortunately, I don't know if these would have been joined by the others still resting on the rocks at the base of the wall. As everything was lifted by a dog running the length of the wall and back. All the waders headed north.

This from Kevin Eaves.

I had my first moth of the year in my trap last night. It's a Common Quaker so one of the usual early Spring arrivals, but very welcome.