A dry day with a sunny morning, more cloud around in the afternoon. A light variable breeze.
South shore Malcolm 09:00 - 11:15
Shelduck 41
Black-Tailed Godwit 3 feeding between the foreshore rocks and Red Nab
 |
| Mud dripping from its relatively short bill |
 |
| Black Tailed Godwits |
It is hardly surprising that there was mud dripping from their bills. This is one feeding, in the company of a Redshank.
This clip shows the location. It is taken from the end of the foreshore looking towards Red Nab.
 |
| They headed off to the NW |
 |
| One of three Little Egret. Also a Grey Heron on the saltmarsh |
 |
| Lots of gulls on Red Nab and No.2 outfall. Almost all Black-Headed gulls |
The plan was to head out to the waterline to check any waders. As I was walking out several thousand waders all along the waterline as far as Potts corner were in the air and clearly under attack by a raptor.
 |
| Some of the waders under attack |
This breakaway group were just out from Red Nab
They eventually settled on the waterline out from Red Nab, but I was still some distance from them and it took several minutes before I could see what they were.
 |
| Mainly Knot and Dunlin |
 |
| But just as I was getting close enough to check them out properly they all lifted again and disappeared far to the south |
 |
| This was the reason. This Peregrine just flew over them, it payed them no heed, so presumably it had just finished eating whatever it caught in the earlier attack. |
All that remained were me, a Redshank and a Bar-Tailed Godwit. At least it provided a comparison with the earlier Black-Tail clip.
Eider 1 male
 |
| Eider |
 |
| The dredger behind was surprisingly quick for what looks like an old tin bathtub! |
The waterline waders never returned. It had been a long walk out, now time to take the longer walk back (no open line to the foreshore by this time). Fortunately I could take it more leisurely on the way back.
Higher up the shore there were
Redshank 40
Dunlin 2
Ringed Plover 5
Grey Plover 1
 |
| Dunlin and Ringed Plover |
 |
| Grey Plover |
At the saltmarsh
Wigeon c60
Lapwing 10
Common Snipe 30+
The marsh seemed to be alive with Snipe and Wigeon
 |
| Common Snipe |
 |
| Lapwing and Turnstone |
Linnet 60
Greenfinch 10
Reed Bunting 5
North shore
Pale-bellied Brent goose 5 out from the skear - David Kaye 15:15
Middleton Nature Reserve - Rosemary and Peter
Main Pond (southern section not checked)
Common Darters 1 pr Ovipositing
Common Darter Lone Male 3 at least
Mute Swan 1 pr
Mallard 8
Moorhen 4
Coot 3
Black Headed Gulls 13
Cetti's Warbler 1 singing
 |
| Main pond |
 |
| Common Darters |
 |
| This one on Peter's trousers |
 |
| And this one on Rosemary's shoulder. It's nice to be this close to nature |
