Rock Pipits continue to confound

Once again the day started with a light south breeze, which freshened slightly as it moved to the west by the afternoon. Sunny periods with some light showers.

Sea report from Pete:

Not a lot today just 13 sandwich tern out and two blogging with four swallow in early stages only of incoming tide

(There were birds of interest in the bay early on though - Pomarine Skua - a flock of seven were seen flying in to the bay past Walney pier at 06:40)

South shore

Wheatear 3

Rock pipits at least 5. One on the south wall/Red Nab.

These two, near the lighthouse, neither of which are ringed.

There were two more near the waterfall, this is the male patrolling his patch of harbour wall.

Presumably where he stops is the end of the defended territory, he then flies back to the upstand near the waterfall and repeats the performance.

So, four Rock Pipits seen along the wall, but no sign of the ringed male, there appears to be more going on here than just two adjacent territories.

It was a noisy area this morning, as well as the displaying Rock Pipits there were also 5 noisy Linnet.

Willow Warbler 1

Pink-Footed goose 80 

The structure is the end of No.2 outflow. The Pinkfoot flew in and were heading towards 
Middleton, but they turned round flew past Potts corner and followed the estuary as far
as Cockerham marshes where they appeared to land

This excellent picture of a Siver Y from Kevin

The first migratory insect of the year on the South wall.

Middleton Nature Reserve - mid afternoon 

Mute swan 6 on the main pond

This is the immature bird, right, it seems to have adopted these two adult.

The "no swimming" pond pair's chicks have hatched - at least 5
There is at least one other pair breeding

Male Gadwall moving to eclipse 

Little grebe 1 on main pond, the Tim Butler birds not seen.

Warblers:

Cetti's warbler 2 - the Fence pond male was quite vocal plus a couple of bursts of song from the "no swimming" pond.

All the regular species heard and seen. No Grasshopper or Garden warblers heard.

The underwing of this female Orange Tip demonstrates 
how effective it is as camouflage, when the butterfly is at rest.

There have been a few unidentified Damselflies seen in the last week. They are difficult to see when they settle in the undergrowth. I managed to identify one, at least, today.

Immature male Common Blue Damselfly

I think this is a Large Red Damselfly - I'll amend if advised otherwise (MD)

This Shelduck landed on the main pond and it was immediately joined by a Lesser Black-Backed gull. The Shelduck was obviously thirsty, and the LBB joined in - as ever with gulls, they just don't seem to know when to stop! I don't think the Shelduck was impressed (MD).

Some passerines passing

The wind again started SSE before moving more south by lunchtime. Plenty of sunshine again but several showers.

Sea and visible migration report from Pete:

Funny morning only did 0700-0900.  The sea produced 

5 Sandwich Tern

3 northbound Whimbrel

35 Knot u-turning.  

A loose ‘gang’ of migrant passerines made their way up the north wall heading towards the cafe:

2 female Whinchat

3 Wheatear

Willow Warbler at least 2

four lots of redpoll heard flying over

Guillemot 8 seen floating in by Kevin later on

South shore early morning

The "big" news is that the car that was stuck in the drain from the saltmarsh 
has been removed

Only the saltmarsh and foreshore area checked

Wheatear 6

Middleton Nature Reserve mid morning

A few shots from Janet

Common Whitethroat 

The female Mallard with her 10, quickly developing, chicks

Two Shelduck also paid the main pond a visit

A male and female Orange Tip, making the most of the sunshine.

Heysham Head foreshore - high water 12:00

I went down at high water, hoping to better understand the Rock Pipit situation, I am little wiser! (MD)

Wheatear 3

Rock pipits - none seen around the very northern point were a pair/displaying male have been active until today. 

There were three birds below the high cliffs. They seemed to be comprised of a male standing guard whenever I went too close to his territory. Plus two feeding birds, one tolerated by the male the other chased away if it got too close. Unfortunately, I didn't see any bird carrying food in its bill, although both feeding birds did occasionally fly high over the cliff tops.

This is a clip of what I believe to be a male. I'm posting this for two reasons, first I like the sound of the waves against the rocks. But, I suppose, more importantly, to show this bird's quite distinctive plumage. It has a high density of spots forming a heart shape on the right side (wrong side for a heart) of its chest. This is a genuine feature not just an effect of the light. I picked it out several times in different lighting conditions.

This next clip, is partly for interest, but also to act as a warning. It shows the torrent of ground water at it emerges from the bottom of a crack in the cliffs. There are several of these cracks along this section. This is not water from the water table, but just rain water draining through the soil above the cliffs. The water is not visible above where it emerges, just the crack, but you can imagine the internal erosion going on.

The significance, of course, is that these cliffs are constantly being weakened. Many have large overhangs, which may remain for years or may drop tomorrow. It is safe, although sometimes slippy, to walk below the cliffs, but don't go too close, and know your tides.

This is the Herring Gull spotted by Gareth and Lesley Powley in Heysham Harbour 30/03/21. We have now received its details, it's done well to be spotted in a range of places, for such a young bird.

These are the comments from the Manx ringing group.

T8WT' is a Herring Gull ringed as a chick on the Calf of Man in 2019. 

There have been three sightings in Ireland and now your sighting in England.

We get many more Manx birds reported from Ireland (north and south) than we 

get from England, so thanks indeed for the report and photo.

visit_date	capture_time	location_name	gridRef
23/06/2019	15:30	Cow Harbour -COM (Cow Harbour)	SC1666
26/09/2019	00:00	Gormanston Beach (Gormanston Beach, Co. Meath)	IO1829866362
12/08/2020	00:00	Millquarter Bay, Strangford Lough, Down	IJ6043
28/09/2020	00:00	Knockinelder Bay, Down	IJ6351

Black-Throated Diver and more Little Terns

The wind started of SSE and shifted to SSW by the afternoon. Plenty of sunshine, but some heavy showers.

Seawatch report compiled by Jean:

Black-throated Diver - 1 in at 0815

Red-throated Diver - 4 out in twos

Little Tern - 3 out at 0843

Arctic Tern - 6 in, 4 out

Sandwich Tern - 57 out

Razorbill - 2 in

Guillemot - 13 in

Kittiwake - 1 out

Gannet- 1 

Red-Breasted Merganser - 2 in

Manx Shearwater - 1 seen later on in the morning

Swallow - 12

Swift - 2 seen later in the morning

Heysham Head mid morning (MD)

At 08:30 The foreshore rocks between Half Moon Bay and the high cliffs (below the old go-cart track) felt like it was boiling with birds. Sparked by the arrival of:

Wheatear 6

And possibly an influx of Rock Pipits (a total of 5 here plus another at the northern point of the Head). All the resident breeding birds were defending their territories including Linnet, Wren, Starling, Pied Wagtail, Starling, House Sparrow and at least two Rock Pipit territories.

This male Linnet was trying to out sing a Wren - no chance (sorry if the swaying rock gives you motion sickness! - I was precariously balanced).

On my return at 09:15, after checking the northern section, everything had settled down. The wheatears had stopped feeding and were just resting on the cliff faces and the breeding birds had gone back to their normal routine. Looking down from the cliff tops now, I spotted a

Whinchat 1 female

Female Whinchat

The gorse above the cliffs was also busy with birds, mainly Linnet but also Whitethroat.

Male Common Whitethroat 

South shore late morning

Pink-Footed goose 1 resting on Red Nab

Whimbrel 2 on Red Nab

Wheatear 3 possibly 5 (3 on foreshore, 2 on Red Nab could have been same)

Rock Pipits 6 (that makes at least 12 birds seen in the recording area this morning) - 1 on Red Nab, 4 in dispute near the waterfall, watched on by the ringed male near the lighthouse.

Yesterday, Lancaster wildlife and nature group reported Common Whitethroats and a Sedge warbler in the scrub near the lighthouse. Today there was one Common Whitethroat and two Willow warbler. This is one of today's Willow warbler 

This is a regular catchment area for migrants.

Heysham Nature Reserve 

A couple of butterfly pictures from Janet

Speckled Wood 

Green-veined White

Middleton Nature Reserve mid afternoon 

Warblers:

8 species heard, but only one Lesser Whitethroat and no Grasshopper or Garden warblers.

Cetti's warbler, just the "no swimming" pond male heard.

Mute 2 adult plus 1 immature (only discernible by dull bill now) on main pond. Plus two nesting pairs

Coot 4

Moorhen 6

Mallard 3 male plus 2 female, one with 10 chicks

Gadwall 1 male

Little grebe 2 adult plus 2 chicks on Tim Butler pond, plus this individual, today on the "no swimming" pond.

The green hue is because I was looking through foliage 

Unfortunately, just as it came into clear view, a visitor came to feed the mute and the grebe disappeared 

Garden Warbler makes the year list

 A sunny morning after the sun cleared the early morning clouds. Light south wind freshened slightly. It became overcast again in the afternoon, with some light showers.

Pete Crooks compiled this morning's sea watch report:

Heysham North Harbour Wall (6.30 – 10.00 am) – A disappointing morning given the incoming tide.

32 Arctic Tern – groups of 15, 3 and 14 flying into the Bay

41 Pink-footed Goose – flew north across the bay at 7.08 am

7 Whooper Swan – flew north across the bay at 8.28 am

10 Guillemot – all appeared on the later stage of the incoming tide. Also 2 distant auks flying ‘out’

c.30 Kittiwake – very distant on the sea then flew ‘out’

1 Red-throated Diver – flew into the bay and landed on the sea

16+ Sandwich Tern – small numbers continuously in view offshore

12 Swallow – flew along the harbour wall (the only obvious passerine movement)

Also offshore: 86 Eider, 2 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Red-breasted Merganser (prior to the incoming tide)

6 Grey Seal – separate individuals pushed into the bay on the rising tide

2 Harbour Porpoise – moved into the bay at 9.05 am

Garden Warbler 1 male singing near the quarry on the west side of Heysham Nature Reserve (first record this year) ref Pete (M).

South shore (MD)

The smell of fuel as I approached the saltmarsh didn't bode well. 

There seems to have been no attempt to bring the car ashore (see yesterday's post).
There was no evidence, other than smell, of pollution, but it would seem to be a
relatively easy exercise to winch the car from the drain and up the slipway.

Sandwich Tern 1

Whimbrel 3

Wheatear 2 

They didn't seem as plump and dark today. Perhaps it was an effect
of the conditions yesterday. The tangle behind this bird is the wooden jetty.

Rock Pipit 3 probably 4

It is still unclear what the situation is near the lighthouse nest site.

This unringed bird was resting on the wooden structure near the nest site

Meanwhile the ringed male was guarding the wall above

A probable third bird was displaying near the waterfall. Another bird was on the sea wall between the outflows, before flying back to Red Nab

They have started replacing the first roof panels on the old Fishers building.
The gulls seem to approve.

Heysham skear low water 17:55

Eider only 7 seem

Red-breasted Merganser 3

Whimbrel 11

Lesser Black-Backed gull c30 - on the lower tides there were hardly any LBB, but plenty of Herring gull feeding on the seed mussels. This evening there were about 30 of each. The LBB also grazing the seed mussels, although most were around a central large pool and seemed to prefer feeding in the water.

Dunlin a flock of c20 flew off as tide started rising

Turnstone c150 - when the tide moved them off their favoured honeycomb worm bed, they shifted to the SE corner of the skear, where they turn into turnoystershells. There are always a lot of oyster shells here, not locally grown, they must be brought in by the tides and storms and collect in this corner. An ideal opportunity for turning, relatively light, but cover a lot of area.

First (possibly only) Spotted Flycatcher of the year

Strong early ESE wind with heavy rain, the rain eased off by early afternoon as the wind moved more to the south.

Heysham Head - report from Dan:

A number of us were there at six for the LDBWS seabird spectacular that wasn’t!

Two Swifts, two Harbour Porpoise and a Guillemot was the best we could manage looking seawards, but a walk in the wood looking for night migrants paid dividends with an off-passage,

Spotted Flycatcher (these have been barely annual in the recording area recently)

Incidentally, Shaun totted up the species list for last Sunday’s session in that area: a grand total of 83.

South shore.

First a couple of records from yesterday (I was expecting a washout, at least picture wise, today so held a couple back, just in case (MD))

At the moment, there seems to be many more Whimbrel around than Curlew, but this group of 15 Curlew were out from the saltmarsh again.

They had the decency to wait till the SeaTruck was in frame before flying south.
The previous day there were 14 here which then flew north

When the mud hasn't been covered for a few days it is effectively barren of accessible food. This has been the case with the recent neap tides, but as soon as the tides start to rise and wets it again, the invertebrates return to the surface. These, mainly 2nd calendar year, Common Gulls waited till the tide was ebbing back before taking advantage. These are just some of the 34 birds in this group.

Back to today.......this wasn't here yesterday morning!

This is just beyond the slipway from Ocean Edge, the car is actually in the creek that
drains the saltmarsh. Hopefully they will be able to tow it out with a tractor. I'm sure 
the vehicle will already be a right off, but there will be oil and fuel that will leak out!

Whimbrel 6 on Red Nab

Sandwich Tern at least 6, including two on Red Nab.

Two Sandwich Tern with a Curlew and Oystercatchers

Linnet 4 on Red Nab plus a male over nest site near lighthouse.

Rock Pipit 3, probably 4 (1 on Foreshore, 1 fending off Wheatears near lighthouse and two between the outflows, one of which could have been the lighthouse bird)

Wheatear at least 7. One on foreshore may have also been one of the two on Red Nab. Five near the lighthouse.

One of the lighthouse area Wheatears. All today's birds looked plump and dark,
suggesting Greenland race, but it might just be down to the wind and rain (MD)

As the rain eased in the afternoon I did a quick circuit of both reserves.

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Singing warblers in order of abundance:

Chiffchaff  6+

Willow Warbler 4

Reed Warbler 1

Sedge Warbler 1

Common Whitethroat just one female seen

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Willow Warbler 

Common Whitethroat 

Lesser Whitethroat 

Chiffchaff 

Blackcap 

Sedge Warbler 4

Reed Warbler 2

Cetti's Warbler at least 1 ("no swimming" pond bird heard at close range, later one sounded like it came from central marsh, but just possibly the NW extent of "no swimming" pond bird's territory)

Swallow 5 

Swift 1

House Martin 2

All the above feeding 

Little Grebe 3 adult plus 2 chicks - there are two adults feeding two separate chicks on the Tim Butler pond. Another adult on the main pond.

The chicks are growing fast

Otter signs:

This rock, half way along the western edge of the main pond, has been used while eating a Signal Crayfish. 

There are broken crayfish remains, bottom right of the rock, and three droppings.
Unfortunately heavy overnight rain had pretty much leached the droppings.

I picked up one of the droppings, the colour and structure was right for an Otter. Possibly a bit small, but I think most of it was washed away. Otter spraints are supposed to have a distinctive odour. "Between new mown hay and rotting fish" (quite a range to be defined as "distinctive"!).

Anyway, I smelt it....it smelt of, well....hand.
On a personal level I am satisfied that at least one Otter is feeding here after dark.
But, not quite enough evidence to be conclusive yet. I'll keep checking (MD)

Little Tern, best of the early morning rush hour

Light SSW breeze moving round to west later. Mainly sunny, but quite a heavy shower at 08:15, which effectively marked the end of the earlier movement.

Early morning report from Pete:

Everything moved earlier than or during the frontal edge of the weak weather front. Nothing afterwards.

 Sea 0640-0840: 

Whimbrel 1

Shag 1 2nd calendar year flew north across the bay

Sandwich tern 19 in and 7 blogging

Little  tern two in then out closer to shore

Arctic tern 12 and 14 in

Gannet 8 and 1 and 1 in

Kittiwake - 15 in, 42 in at same time as distant c40 out

Swallow at least 200 in

House martin 2

Sand martin 2

Two whimbrel and 4 Dunlin red nab

Middleton Nature Reserve - report and pictures from Janet

A quick visit to MNR at 07.30 this morning.

The Gulls were back and forward to the industrial site with nesting material, 

There was a Cetti's warbler singing, but as usual it stayed hidden!! 

Grasshopper warbler not heard

This Sedge warbler was ringed

There were two Shelduck which flew over from the sea. 

At least 6 Swifts flew over.

 I couldn't hear the dawn chorus at one point because of the Song Thrush!!

Female Roe Deer

Some pictures from the north shore today, provided by Kevin Singleton

Just out from Whinnysty Lane:

Summer plumage Turnstone 

One of eleven Little Egret on the north shore this evening 

Lesser Black-Backed gull

Also further out on/around the skear

Eider 13

Red-breasted Merganser 4

Whimbrel 14

Osprey double

A WNW breeze freshened slightly and moved to NW. mainly sunny in the morning but showers in the afternoon.

Report from Pete:

Osprey 2 - one very distant north at 0735. Another first seen heading north over sunny slopes, then Battery/Aldi at 09:10

 Sea 0700-0830: 

4 Common scoter, 

1 Red Throated Diver 

4 Whimbrel

1 Gannet  

2 Guillemot

9 Sandwich tern

1 Common Buzzard across bay then ESE

45 Dunlin (two flocks) north across Bay

About 10 Dunlin roosting red nab

South shore:

Wheatear 1 on Ocean Edge foreshore 

Shelduck 4

A couple of sitting ducks.
This is the mud out from Ocean Edge, it doesn't get wet on these neap tides.

Curlew a flock of 14 was also resting on the mud before flying off to the north.

Whimbrel at least 8 mainly individuals 

Janet took some nice shots today, as always with high resolution images you should open them to see the detail.

Two shots showing upper and lower wing detail of a Whimbrel 

This male Rock Pipit was displaying near the waterfall,
other shots clearly show that it is not the ringed bird.
So at least two males in this 100m length of harbour wall.

Heysham skear - low water 15:30

Eider just 16 seen

Red-breasted Merganser 2 (male and female)

Whimbrel at least 3

Now the seed mussels are forming, the Herring gulls gather to feed on them. I've no idea why the very closely related Lesser Black-Backed gulls seem not to (MD). At the current seed mussel size, the gulls don't even bother to open them, just prise them off their anchorage and swallow them whole. Today there was c200 birds a few 1st and 2nd summer, but most in adult plumage, they graze the mussels, like so many sheep in a field. In the coming weeks, the Herring gull numbers are normally swollen with more young birds, presumably just learning how to harvest this food crop.

These are a few of today's birds feeding:

This is a still from the above clip, you can see the middle bird swallowing a seed mussel.

Middleton Nature Reserve

There are some very nice stands of Cowslips around the scrub just west of the water treatment plant.

Not just appreciated by me. I think this is a Common Carder Bee, if you know differently, please advise.

Snow tops the bill - we have had busier days!

A cold fresh west wind all day, but the sun shone for most of the day.

Snow covered the South Lakes hills. This shot from the harbour

It wasn't just a light dusting but a serious covering, it was still laying 
thick on the ground in the afternoon, this shot is from the skear.

Pete and Jean managed a few more birds on this morning's seawatch:

Sandwich Tern 6

Guillemot 2

Harbour Porpoise 1

South shore 08:00 - 09:30

Sandwich Tern 1, possibly one of Pete and Jean's 

Whimbrel 5

Wheatear 2

Rock Pipit at least 3 - the ringed male near the lighthouse was feeding itself,  another bird towards the waterfall was displaying and calls, that sounded as if they came from the lighthouse nest hole. It still isn't cut and dried what's happening here.

Linnet 8 including one taking nest lining to nest site near the waterfall.

Goldfinch - it's always good to hear the Goldfinch twittering away as they forage, but this bird was having a sing.

Heysham skear - low water 14:20

Eider c20

Great Crested grebe 1

Red-breasted Merganser 4 (2 pair) - these were together then disappeared, I think they moved on. I'm not sure if these male gestures are a cordial "hello" or a less than cordial "go away" (MD)

Whimbrel 5

These two Dunlin flew in, settled on the skear and made no attempt to feed.

Middleton Nature Reserve (I'll leave the time for you to "deduce" (MD))

I just checked the main pond for Otter spraints

Mute swan - just 3 adult 

Mallard female still with 10 chicks 

I did a full circuit of the main pond and found no sign of Otter spraints, but as Janet said yesterday there is evidence of Signal Crayfish being eaten, but not much, so presumably it has only just resumed.

In a complete circuit of the pond, I only came across one "head case"
(I know......begging for a comment.....but I'll let you make your own up!)

However the only other remains I found were fresh, certainly no more than a few days old. This is how I found it, an almost complete front end, upside down.

It was still attracting flies, one circled

This is a clearer view of the under side. This section was 11cm long, so quite a large specimen.
The right side legs have been cleanly bitten off, strongly suggesting Otter

This is the top side, this one's head case is missing, but the earlier one was
 too small and on the opposite side of the pond

Having checked the full perimeter, I will be able to tell if any future Signal Crayfish remains are new. And, I'll be checking regularly for spraints. If anyone sees likely droppings on a prominent stone or feature, please take a picture or advise me where it was seen - Thanks.