Storm Boelo arrives

Showers all day particularly heavy in the afternoon and evening. The south wind freshened all day becoming strong this afternoon then very strong this evening as it drifted to SW.

South shore -Malcolm 09:45 - 10:45

It rained the whole time but not too heavily.

Redshank c80

Knot c300 settled by the saltmarsh briefly and had a quick freshen up in the freshwater runoff

Knot making their way to the creek. Also Redshank and a Curlew

Knot taking a bath (it was raining!) plus a Shelduck

Shelduck 8

Wigeon at least as many as yesterday's 130 around Red Nab

Wigeon

Rock Pipit 1 flew along the sea wall

Mediterranean gull 1 adult feeding on No.1 outfall

Mediterranean gull with the wooden jetty behind 

Despite the strong south wind it was relatively easy to get a clip. The gulls were flying hard into the wind just to keep in position over the outfall.

1 immature Shag on the wooden jetty

Shag (middle)

I returned this afternoon, the wind was really strong by this time, but still from the south and even a touch of east in it. The rain was also very heavy. I didn't see anything, including, unsurprisingly, another soul. The wind is going to remain strong all night and tomorrow and should be from the west, so hopefully something will be blown in.

Heliport

Same mix as yesterday, but more Oystercatcher and Knot.

Knot in the foreground and Oystercatchers behind

Knot, Redshank and Turnstone 

A breakaway faction of Turnstone

A few of the Knot roosted on top of the heliport wall. No ringed bids seen

This heavily pregnant Grey Squirrel is now too large to get through the bars on my feeder table. The bars are to prevent Pigeons eating all the food. Squirrels normally get through without any problem.

As well as nuts and seeds on the table I string peanuts in shells on a wire
that goes around the mushroom. Each day is a lottery as to if the squirrels or
Jays eat them, usually both. Jackdaws and Magpies also have a go in winter.

So she took the sunflower hearts from the feeder

I suppose it is the sign of our warmer times that she is pregnant at this time of
year, they traditionally have their kits in spring and late summer. I think
late summer is pushing it a bit for the end of October!