A little bit of bloom goes a long way.....take care

A warm sunny day with a light west breeze

Heysham skear - Malcolm 09:00 - 11:00

Eider 3

Red-breasted Merganser 1

Male Red-breasted Merganser

Little Egret 5

Gulls c250. Two green ringed birds were seen, one not seen before, so details awaited. But this one N:05S was here last summer.

Ringed at Bowland as a chick in 2023.
It was also seen at Darwen in September last year

Oystercatcher not counted 

Curlew 9

Curlew

Sanderling 250 arrived in three groups. Later they were attacked by a raptor and left to the NW. Either some returned or more arrived (or both) as there were 200 around the skear when I left.

200 in this shot

A later flock arriving 

Dunlin 1

Dunlin

Apart from its dark belly, its plumage is similar to some of the Sanderling now.

There was an algal bloom and most of the uppermost pools were full of algae. This is a natural phenomenon and just the result of longer warmer days and calm seas.

The pink "fog" is red algae

It is easier to see in this clip, where the pool is still subjected to light wave action 

This pool is still draining 

And this is open water

As far as I know this type of bloom is harmless, but some blooms can be toxic to animals. So, to be on the safe side, best to keep pets away from the pools and any that may be on the mud. 

Middleton Nature Reserve - Janet

Coot, but not cute, chicks!

Male Kestrel 

Small Heath

Drinker moth caterpillar 

South shore - Malcolm 14:30 -16:30

I went to see if there were many insects, but it is much better here with an east breeze. 

Painted Lady 3 around saltmarsh and foreshore and 3 more along the sea wall

Large White 4 around saltmarsh and foreshore and 1 more along the sea wall

Cinnabar moth 3 in the scrub near the lighthouse 

A faded looking Cinnabar 

Rock Pipit 1 on sea wall and at least 5 in the harbour. I suspect that there are three breeding pairs in the harbour.

Rock Pipit with food in the harbour 

Linnet 2 and Pied Wagtail 1 on the perimeter wire between the lighthouse and waterfall.

The Carrion Crows nest still looked deserted 

These were working hard trying to free the car from the mud. It got stuck 
just out from the slipway on the foreshore at 10:00 and this was 14:30.
Only a few more hours till the tide returned......

I couldn't resist taking this shot, but I wouldn't have made light of things if
they had lost their car. They somehow managed to get it free by 16:00