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
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| 1cy Mediterranean gull centre with a 1cy Black-Headed gull in front |
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| Bothe Meds in this shot |
Waders on Red Nab
Oystercatcher c300
Curlew 15
Redshank 17
Turnstone 11
Ringed Plover 3
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| Another Turnstone further along the sea wall |
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| One of the larger ferries dwarfing the wooden jetty |
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| 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
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| Male Small White |
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| 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.
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| 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
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| 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! |
