Monday, 27 July 2026

Returning waders haven't gone unnoticed

A mainly overcast day with a few light showers. A west wind.

South shore Malcolm 09:30 - 10:30
I went to watch the tide reach Red Nab
Whimbrel 1 flew across the saltmarsh calling
Little Egret 5

Little Egret out from the foreshore 

There were hardly any gulls on Red Nab, and they were on
the easternmost edge

I could only find two Mediterranean gulls, this juvenile (top)....

.....and this adult (centre)

I didn't see any Peregrines but the gulls were very flighty, they even lifted when a Kestrel flew over.

There are lots of young large gulls

A pair of Great Black-backed gulls

Curlew 50+
Rock Pipit 1

Heysham skear - Malcolm 14:00 - 16:00
c400 large gulls mainly Herring. Three ringed birds were seen, but only one new one for this summer.
N:20K - details awaited 

Black-Headed gulls c30

Eider 1 female flew in
Red-breasted Merganser 2 together 
Great Crested Grebe 1
Great Crested Grebe 

There were a lot more waders than of late, but these too were flighty. There was at least one, probably two Peregrines buzzing them. They even managed to lift the Oystercatchers who normally stand their ground.
Oystercatcher and Curlew after being spooked by a Peregrine 

Oystercatcher c1500
Curlew c50
Whimbrel 1

Whimbrel 

Redshank 16
At first glance this wader with an unusual wing marking looked interesting....

.....but just a Redshank with a leucistic feather. Same on both wings

Turnstone 81 - flocks of 57 and 18 plus a small feeding group

Summer Plumage Turnstone

This is part of the larger flock of Turnstone