Still plenty of Chiffchaff

A light NE breeze became fresher from the east in the afternoon. Dry with sunny spells.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

This morning's ringing included 10 Chiffchaff 

North Shore

Wheatear 1 on Heliport, as was this Lapwing - Kevin Singleton

Red-Throated Diver 1 out distantly (in Cumbria) - Pete

South shore (Malcolm)

Two checks out from the saltmarsh, late morning on the rising tide and evening after the tide had ebbed.

Pink Footed goose 79 - 78 in a south bound skein at 12:00, plus 1 having a rest on the shore.

It wasn't injured, as later on I saw it fly off. It must have just flown as far as
it could and needed a rest. The wet mud looking blue, reflecting the sky.

Shelduck 94

Wigeon 30 - 5 small groups (7, 6, 8, 7 and 2) flew south from Red Nab as the tide covered it

Mediterranean gull 15 minimum - only 3 seen this morning but at least 15 this evening, including 2 x 2nd calendar year and 3 ringed birds. The 2 read have been seen here already this year.

Two of this morning's Meds with Dunlin

I didn't go to the waterline, but this morning there were at least:

Oystercatcher 400

Curlew 50

Knot 500

Bar-Tailed Godwit 15

Close to the shoreline 

Lapwing 6 on the saltmarsh 

Grey Plover 28 resting this morning, just one in the evening 

Grey Plover in the low evening light

Ringed Plover, none this morning but 35 feeding this evening 

Redshank 50

Dunlin c600 feeding this morning, but they were very flighty.

Dunlin coming in to feed, at the same spot they just took flight from!

Black-Tailed Godwit 6 - they came in/off and settled with the feeding birds.

Black-Tailed Godwit coming in to land 

But when the Dunlin took flight again they flew off to the north

Other movement, all in/off then either east or SE.

Meadow Pipit 22

Pied Wagtail 1

Swallow 3 together

Grounded

Wheatear 1

Linnet c80 - c40 each feeding on Ocean Edge grass and saltmarsh (both groups visible at the same time). These are some on the grass this evening 

In the Nature Park

Common Darter 3

Red Admiral 4

Comma 1

Speckled wood 1

This juvenile Sparrowhawk was on the tall anemometer this evening 

Barnacle bonus

A light NE wind. Some sunny spells.

Heysham Nature Reserve (Jean)

Raven 1

Robin 14

Chiffchaff 4

There were 3 Roe Deer as well.

The grass was being mowed on the Heliport in readiness for checking the roosting Knot for colour rings. Thanks to everyone involved.

At least 15, possibly 29 Common Snipe, depending whether they landed again 

South shore (Malcolm).

A late morning walk from Red Nab to saltmarsh and back.

Barnacle goose 17 (they are barely annual here) I spotted them flying low from the direction of the Lune estuary. 

They stayed low until they reached the shipping lane

Then gained height as they continued NW 

Barnacle goose

Shelduck 86

Wigeon 14 at Red Nab

Mediterranean gull 3 - 2 adult and a 2nd calendar year on Red Nab.

2nd calendar year Mediterranean gull (top centre)

Kingfisher 2 at least. Two flew quickly (it's the only way they can fly!) south along the foreshore. A couple of minutes later one flew back. Then it, or another, flew south again just out from the foreshore.

Kingfisher 

Little Egret 6

Grey Heron 1

Heron arriving at Red Nab

There was generally little passage, but a flurry around 11:00 saw these come in off

Skylark 1

Meadow Pipit 12

Pied Wagtail 11 

On the ground

25 Pied Wagtail feeding on Ocean Edge grass.

Linnet 40+ on Saltmarsh 

Wheatear 2

Robin and a Dunnock - I suspect one is an interloper 

The sun came out as I went through the Nature Park

Migrant Hawker 2

Common Darter 5

Female Common Darter

Red Admiral 3

Small White 7

Female Small White

Not much better than yesterday, but at least it was dry.

A light north wind. Sunny spells and dry.

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Report by Jean:

I put up a couple of nets on the off chance a Yellow-browed Warbler might be around. Spoiler - it wasn't. But a small flock of young Goldfinches descended and 7 new ones were caught, as was an older male from 2022 that should have known better! 

Other than that two Great Tits were retrapped, a juv from April that has now revealed itself to be a female, and another young female that was a nestling in one of the Landscape Strip nest boxes in May. There were also two Dunnocks, both this year's birds. 

Apart from the birds attracted to the feeders I heard a Chiffchaff calling but didn't manage to catch it. 

South shore (Malcolm)

Red Nab then out from the saltmarsh.

Mediterranean gulls 7 at least. 3 adult and a 1st calendar year on Red Nab (probably others out of sight). 3 adults on the shore.

First calendar year Mediterranean gull (centre)

All the other gulls on the beach were stood, but the Meds chose to sit!
I eventually saw their legs and none were ringed

Wigeon 14 came in to Red Nab

Wigeon

Shelduck 185 - these tides completely cover the mud which brings the small molluscs back to the surface. The Shelduck were taking advantage, they were all over the shore.

Grey Plover 9 were resting on the mud close to the saltmarsh 

Grey Plover and Shelduck

Redshank 76 around the saltmarsh 

There were a few small groups of waders feeding high up the shore, but only Dunlin seen.

Dunlin feeding close to the shoreline 

There was a flock of c1,500 waders along the waterline, mainly Knot and Dunlin but also at least 20 Bar-Tailed Godwit and 30 Grey Plover

Oystercatcher 200

On the saltmarsh 

Linnet 40+ 

Meadow Pipit 2 

Wheatear 1 

Wheatear with its feathers fluffed out

Swallow 1 south

Heysham skear - low water 18:20 (Malcolm)

I checked about an hour before low water, there was very little on the sea.

Eider 6

Red-Breasted Merganser 3

Great Crested Grebe 1

Little,Egret 9

Oystercatcher c500

Knot c200

Curlew 60

Redshank 40

Turnstone 35

Ringed Plover 3

Ringed Plover

This Herring gull has a Whelk shell, it appears empty, but almost certainly 
contains a Hermit Crab. The gull wont be able to prise it out, so will have to
drop the shell from height to break it open My money is on the Hermit crab

There is still loads of gutweed and sea lettuce. Many areas of the skear are green.

All the green is either gutweed or sea lettuce. If it stays like this the
Brent geese will only feed close to the shore at high water this winter.

Well......not even the ducks were impressed!

It rained all day!  Light east wind till after lunch then it switched to north.

Middleton Nature Reserve (Malcolm)

Just a quick check of the two main ponds.

The cygnet has rejoined the adults on the main pond.

No Mallard, no Gadwall and just 5 Tufted Duck

1 winter plumage Little Grebe

Coot 20

Moorhen 2

South shore (Malcolm)

A check from Red Nab to saltmarsh in the morning and a walk along the sea wall in the evening.

Shelduck 23

Wigeon 15 - on Red Nab this morning, resting on the mud between outfalls this evening.

Some of the Red Nab Wigeon

This evening's resting Wigeon

Rock Pipit 5. 3 together on the foreshore this morning, 2 along the sea wall this evening.

Wheatear 2

Wheatear in the rain

Linnet c60

Linnet shaking off the rain

Pied Wagtail 57 feeding on Ocean Edge grass this evening 

Chiffchaff 1 in the same small piece of scrub at the Red Nab end of the foreshore as the Sedge warbler was in the other week

The only waders feeding high up the shore were Redshank 175

Redshank having a rest on the foreshore 

Grey plover 2 with c 150 oystercatcher along the waterline

Snipe 2 - one this morning and one this evening flew high over the saltmarsh towards Middleton Nature Reserve 

Lapwing just 1 seen

Mediterranean gull 1 adult flew along the sea wall this evening. There were no gulls on the beach by the wooden jetty

Little Egret 4

Grey Heron 1

Kingfisher 1 this evening resting on the rocks at the side of No.2 outfall.

The Kingfisher is in the centre of this location shot

The Shelduck this evening were feeding where I photographed the tiny snails (see post 24/09/24). They will be feeding on them in this clip.

The weather is set to be fairer tomorrow 

You have to learn quickly to survive

A dry, mainly sunny, but cool day. A light SE wind.

South shore (Malcolm)

Just a look out on the shore again this morning. There was a mixed flock of Knot and Bar-Tailed Godwit on the waterline before flying further south, similar numbers to yesterday.

Curlew 89

Oystercatcher 30

Redshank 62 near the saltmarsh 

Lapwing 8 on the saltmarsh 

Common Snipe 2 flew high towards Middleton Nature Reserve (later Janet flushed one on the reserve)

Little Egret 7

Grey Heron 1

Grey Heron had been on the saltmarsh then flew towards Middleton Nature Reserve 

Cetti's warbler singing just south of the caravan park

Linnet 40 on saltmarsh 

Wheatear 3 along foreshore 

Wheatear 

Pied Wagtail 2 south

Shelduck 97

Wigeon 5 on Red Nab

Wigeon and Shelduck

Mediterranean gull 8 on Red Nab

This green ringed German Med has been around all summer,
although it has not been seen for a month

Peregrine Falcon 1 - today's lesson for the Carrion Crows was how not to get eaten! The Peregrines here seldom bother the crows, particularly as there were thousands of waders further south. It must have sensed an opportunity, presumably some were young and inexperienced. It attacked them for over 5 minutes and almost caught them in flight, but rested when they were grounded. 

It was seen off this time but soon returned and repeated the attack. But this
time the crows had learned, and were quicker to group on the shore. The Peregrine
eventually gave up and flew to the south, where it duly lifted all the small waders

Middleton Nature Reserve (Malcolm)

Just a quick look at the two main ponds. The water level on the "no swimming" pond is now only 0.5m above its normal level. Strangely, the young swan was there alone.

Solitary cygnet on the "no swimming" pond. There were two adults
on the main pond, perhaps they are flying between the two ponds,
but the female doesn't normally leave her young alone

Tufted Duck 10 (9 on main pond)

Mallard 8

Gadwall 4 (3 males)

Gadwall

Water Rail 1 calling

Cetti's warbler and Chiffchaff both singing 

The Mute family were still separated when Angela Gillon checked mid afternoon. 

Also:

Sparrowhawk flew over main pond 

2 Swallows heading out in the direction of the sea.

Half-Moon Bay

Rock Pipit 5 - 3 near the cafe plus 2 between slipway and the rocky outcrop (Malcolm)