Swallows heading south!

 A warm dry day, but mainly overcast. A SW wind.

Heysham head 9-11 - David
at least 2000 oystercatchers south towards heliport 

flock of 40 redshank 

whimbrel 1 south 

rock pipit 

South shore - Malcolm

I walked out to the waterline on the rising tide this morning. A bit early for waders here yet, and there were only:

Oystercatcher 41

Curlew 42 on the shore, later another 80+ flew south.

Whimbrel 1 heard only

There was just one gull sat in the middle of the beach

There wasn't another bird of any description within 500m of this gull...

....not only was it a Mediterranean gull, but it had a green ring, and one not seen
here before. Unfortunately there must have been some mud on the ring and it 
remained unread!

Little Egret 3 around the saltmarsh 

Little Egrets 

I went along the sea wall on the ebb tide in the afternoon.

Swift 4 and Swallows 22 were between the Nature Park and Red Nab, feeding for a while then heading south. Another 5 Swallows south when I walked back

Swift

Swallows over Red Nab

Juvenile Swallow

Pied Wagtail 4 juvenile on Red Nab plus an adult near the waterfall 

Rock Pipit 1 each, Red Nab and Lighthouse 

I went down to check the feeding beach in the hope, but not expectation, that the green ringed Mediterranean gull would be there. It wasn't. Just 6 adults on the beach and a 7th seen flying towards it.

Mediterranean gulls

Shag 1 2nd calendar year on the wooden jetty with Cormorants 

Shag (centre)

Whimbrel 1

Whimbrel 

Butterflies in the Nature Park 

Large White 1

Red Admiral 2

Common Blue 2

Meadow Brown several 

Common Blue

Red Admiral