It's an ill wind.........

South winds today, SSW in the morning more SSE in the afternoon. Mainly overcast with some showers.

North shore

These are the steps below Whinnysty Lane, they took a battering during the weekend storm. 

An earlier storm this year started the damage, but the weekend storm left this,
these are not small boulders!

Pale-bellied Brent goose 25 - a lady at yesterday's event asked how the sea and shore birds manage through the storms. The answer is that most healthy birds can cope with short spells of most extreme weather. And storms sometimes can provide new opportunities, today the Brent were taking advantage of such an opportunity. There were none feeding near the children's play area, instead they were strung out along the low water line near the green marker, feeding on broken weed left behind by the storm. They looked so much more at home feeding miles from any disturbance!

The beach slopes down quickly here, these birds would not have been visible from the shore.

This clip was on the way back looking from the skear, it wasn't practical to take a shot of all the birds as they were strung out over several hundred metres of shore line.

Another consequence of storms is that some birds find themselves displaced, two species were on/around the skear that are only seen rarely here.

Wigeon 7

Common Snipe 3

Also:

Great Crested Grebe 6

Red-breasted Merganser 2

Eider 100+

On the way back, the rocks around the children's play area were still deserted apart from a group of Black-Headed gulls with 

Mediterranean gull 1 (the regular bird that also frequents the lamppost) - in this clip the Med starts top left (then follow the white wings). The whole group fly to a groundwater run off, they all seemed to need a drink. It was 10:40, so perhaps they were just returning after a breakfast near the lamppost (MD)

South shore

First an update:

Siskin 1 seen by Kevin near the small anemometer on Friday

Today

Pale-bellied Brent goose 44 - these will include this morning's birds. Three lots arrived at Red Nab, 34, 2 and 8.

Wigeon 200+

Shelduck 15

Lapwing 16

Common Snipe 15 flushed from saltmarsh edge by the rising tide

Rock Pipit 4 - saltmarsh, Red Nab, sea wall and waterfall 

I have had some enquiries about yesterday's guided walk along the south wall. These are the details, I know Deborah is planning future, similar events.

Organised by: Deborah Woods Community Engagement Officer as part of The Bay:A Blueprint for Recovery (it’s a multi partnership project with Eden Project North and the Lancashire & Cumbria WildlifeTrust, The NHS and Postcode Lottery)

At least one of the Little gulls still around

The continuing very strong west wind in the morning veered more to the north, but no more than WNW by the afternoon. Some very heavy showers, some of hail.

South shore late morning flood tide.

Little gull 1 adult seen by Shaun from the south shore, heading toward the north side.

A group walk along the south shore, organised by "The Bay:A Blueprint for Recovery" was very fortunate with the weather, we just caught one short squall as we were leaving. But slightly unfortunate, as some of the regular recent birds failed to show today. No matter, today (and future events) was about showing interested people local walks so that they can enjoy the wildlife whenever they wish. 

Wigeon c150 in the channel next to No.1 outflow  waiting to get to Red Nab.

Shelduck 23 arriving at Red Nab as we were leaving

Pale-bellied Brent goose 36 - flew past the lighthouse on their way to Red Nab

Two of today's party watching the Brent fly past the lighthouse 
It was the cloud on the horizon that eventually caught up with us

Lots of Curlew showing well as they battled high against the wind, also Oystercatcher and Redshank. Unfortunately, no Shag on show (after showing so well in previous days), and even more surprising no Rock Pipits seen or heard - still a good time was had by all.

Horse paddocks 

Mediterranean gull 1 adult - ref Pete

I checked at high water again, no sign of yesterday's Little gulls or Sanderling but there was this "group" of 41 Ringed Plover. I put group in inverted commas as they did seem to be quite socially distanced.....

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just a quick check on the way home

Wildfowl pretty much unchanged, although we are back to two female and two male Shoveler. One male not yet in full breeding plumage. I actually took this clip yesterday to demonstrate the difference between the two male plumages.

This clip is from today, it starts with two Little grebes. Watch the one on the left, it has caught a fish. I know there are Perch in this pond, but this fish doesn't look like a Perch, but presumably it is, as the only other fish I can think of like this would be a Minnow. But this isn't typical Minnow habitat, plus this fish takes a bit of swallowing, which would be required for a Perch which have very sharp dorsal fin spines.

Little gulls cap a slightly surreal day

Very strong SW wind all day with plenty of showers.

From Pete:

Ringed Plover 27 on south shore grass, an unusually large winter number here.

Kittiwake 1 first winter out from the wooden jetty

Red-Throated Diver 1 out

Mediterranean gull 1 adult on the horse paddocks (looked to be the lamppost bird)

Little gull 2 (at least) The SW wind was driving in the high spring tide over the sea wall by the children's play area and creating large pools in the horse paddocks. Tommy Wilmer reported a Little gull there, Pete located an adult and let me know, fortunately I had just donned my waterproofs so I went for look.

But Alan Physick beat me to it and managed this shot a Little Gull with a 

Sanderling in the background.

Little gull on one of the pools, you can just make out the Sanderling top left

By the time I'd got there the tide was ebbing and the pools receding. No sign of the Sanderling but there was a

Rock Pipit 1

There was an adult Little gull flying around, it looked to me (MD), that it was finding worms drowned by the saltwater pools and then exposed as the water levels dropped. If so, it is some opportunism for a dedicated sea bird. This clip is typical of its activity

This shot shows the location, just beyond the wire perimeter fence. Although the birds were close the combination of being buffeted by the wind, the constant sea spray and looking through fencing made focusing very difficult.

This shot is looking back towards Knowlys Rd

It was only when I'd got home and checked through my pictures, that I could confirm that there were at least two Little Gulls.

Not a great shot, but two Little gulls

This one has particularly dark underwings 

This one has paler underwings although no sign of any dark primary wingtips 

Heysham Harbour (MD)

I went down mid morning, couldn't find anything on the sea, but....

Shag 3 juvenile 

One on the steps near the lighthouse again, I thought it was struggling as it had its head under its wing, it looked at me when I made a noise, then put its head back under its wing, although it did keep one eye on me.

Juvenile Shag, keeping one eye on me, but making no attempt to move

I left it in peace, but feared the worse. Checking the waterfall from the lighthouse, there were two more juvenile Shag feeding. But perhaps I shouldn't have worried, without any disturbance the steps Shag climbed to the top of the steps then waddled all the way along the harbour wall towards the waterfall. Probably not coincidental, that this coincided with the tide just covering the waterfall outlet, a point in the tide where I suspect the fishing advantage switches from the gulls to the diving birds. This is just a portion of its journey.

But, perhaps worry is still in order. When it had waddled to the waterfall, the kindest description is that it....."fell in"!

At the end of the above clip, I pan out, expecting to pick up its flight. Instead, it landed just in front of the harbour wall.

Perhaps its graceless decent was intentional as it landed just a short swim from the 
waterfall. I still can't decide if it is a healthy regular bird or a new weak/injured bird (MD)

A poorly timed squall?

The strong wind was much less north than forecast, more or less due west. Some short heavy showers in the morning with increasing periods of sunshine throughout the day.

Heliport wall - Howard

Two more colour ringed Knot read:

Another excellent in flight shot

Another great shot, but what I really like are the two Oystercatcher
eyes peering from bottom left (MD)

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just a quick check of the wildfowl, things pretty much the same, but today's Shoveler combination was one male in full breeding plumage plus three female. Four male Tufted. Two each Coot and Little grebe one trilling. This clip is really about Coot feeding, but includes: Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler and Tufted:

South shore late morning (MD)

Pale-bellied Brent Goose 22 on Red before moving off towards Potts Corner

Greylag Goose 4 flew into the bay

Shelduck 5

Wigeon 278 (again counted as they moved in to Red Nab)

Eider 4 male out

Rock Pipit 1 near waterfall 

Shag at least one second calendar year bird. This one was on the steps near the lighthouse. It looked at me then totally ignored me. When I have seen Shag here before, they have hauled themselves out of the sea, exhausted by a storm. But not sure about this bird. I didn't disturb it, but when I looked again later it had moved off. It or another bird was seen flying out a little later. This clip shows the location.

Either way it gave me an opportunity to look a better photographer than I actually am!

Second calendar year Shag

Immature Shag flying out of the harbour 

I hadn't planned on waiting for the ferry, but as I was about to leave I saw it on the horizon, the wind was a much better direction and stronger than I had expected, so I decided to wait. I watched it all the way in till about a mile out, then it disappeared in the middle of a heavy squall. All clear again by the time it arrived, unfortunately all clear of any interesting gulls too! Pete advises that following gulls often fly off ahead of an approaching squall. Still, mustn't grumble it was a decent walk.

A bit of a bill problem

SW wind, largely overcast with a few sunny spells.

North shore:

Howard couldn't find any new ringed Knot on the Heliport today, so had a look at Sandylands groyne (seen from the recording area)

Mediterranean gull 1 adult - the face pattern looks like the regular lamppost bird, but as Howard points out, this bird has its bill tips crossed, best seen in the last image (if you open it).

Mediterranean gull with an apparent slight problem with its bill tips
I've just had another look at my last shot of the lamppost Med, it does appear
to have this same misalignment, although I had put that down to a poor shot (MD)

Kevin Singleton was also in the same area today and took this nice in flight shot, when you know to look you can see the same misalignment of the bill tips (again you will have to open image to see it)

Skylark 1 over near the children's play area

Curlew rooting on Heliport also from Kevin

South shore - mid morning

Wigeon 300 in the channels either side of No.2 outflow, waiting to get to Red Nab. 300 is the result of a count, not an estimate.

Shelduck 15

It was too early for the Brents to arrive at Red Nab.

Rock Pipit 3 - a very agitated Red Nab bird plus the ringed lighthouse male and waterfall bird displaying.

Shag 1 juvenile flew out of the harbour 

The Walney ringed 2nd calendar year Great Black-Backed gull is still in the harbour,
but no sign of the colour ringed Herring gulls

Middleton Nature Reserve 

A short walk around mid afternoon.

Mute 8 adult plus 9 x 2nd calendar year

Greylag goose 1 - it was not going with the flow, as the Mute and Mallard headed towards someone arriving at the feeding area, it went the other way.

Mallard 16

Gadwall 37

Wigeon 2 (pair)

Shoveler 4 - 2 female plus two males, one not quite in full breeding plumage. This is it, although its plumage is also soiled by what looks to be muddy weed (not a good look!)

Tufted Duck 3 males - I like this clip, you can tell the ducks are feeding on the pond bottom, by the bubbles they release, but I wasn't expecting such a synchronised surfacing!

Moorhen 14

Coot 1

Little grebe 1 trilling

Water Rail 1 squealing

Common Snipe 2 - I was expecting more, see yesterday's comments ref spring tides

Pheasant 3 at least

Roe Deer - none seen, but fresh tracks in several locations 

Jackdaw 50 milling around when I left at 16:00. 

Just a pair of Jacks

West wind with high cloud and some sunny spells - mild.

I only had chance for one outing today, and so far no other reports (MD)

Red Nab to saltmarsh towards high water.

Pale-bellied Brent goose 14 arrived at Red Nab from the north side 10:20 - numbers do seem to decline during spring tides. Alternative feeding areas become available as the tides come in and go out further.

Wigeon c150

Lapwing 35 near saltmarsh 

Common Snipe 18 flushed from saltmarsh, I don't think I missed many today.

Jack Snipe 2

The first spring tide to cover the saltmarsh is normally the most productive, that was yesterday's tide. The Common Snipe quickly get fed up of being flushed twice a day and remain in other feeding areas, typically Middleton Nature Reserve, which is just beyond the caravan site. The Jack Snipe though are normally more tenacious and numbers usually only decline slightly over a set of spring tides. 

Rock Pipit 2 on saltmarsh - this one is feeding amongst the flotsam in the NE corner of the saltmarsh, the same flotsam where the Sanderling was feeding on 6th January. The rising tides concentrate the invertebrates, the Rock Pipit catches at least two sea slaters in this clip.

Kingfisher - I've not seen one or had any reports since the end of the last set of spring tides on 26th January. That is not a surprise, as the tides have not been high enough to allow fish to reach onto Red Nab. What is a bit of a surprise though is that the Kingfisher haven't returned now that conditions are again suitable for fishing. Not only have I not seen one, but their favoured rocks remain guano free. Any new or recent sightings would be interesting.

This is a nice shot of one of the regular Great Black-Backed gulls in the harbour. It was actually taken by Kevin last week, but I've been saving it for a quiet day.

Great Black-Backed gull on one of the harbour platforms 

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just a quick check of the two main ponds. Not really much change, but for what it's worth:

Mute 7 adult 9 second calendar year

Moorhen 9

Coot 1

Gadwall 40

Mallard 13

Wigeon 2

Teal 2

Shoveler 4 - two female plus two male, one in only partial breeding plumage. There seems to be a different combination of birds at each visit, there must be at least six individuals involved.

Little grebe 1

Just out of the recording area.

This is the adult Mediterranean gull on the lamppost it was 09:30, I'm pretty sure that breakfast is served c10:00.

Mediterranean gull on its regular lamppost 

If you are not sure which lamppost it is this next shot should help, this is looking south towards the traffic lights at Oxcliffe Rd and Heysham Rd junction. You can just make out the traffic lights beyond the red car. The gull tends to favour it here at high water plus, I suspect, certain regular feeding times.

Med on lamppost to the left, traffic lights just ahead.

Good tide for Jack Snipe

The wind was constantly WSW which is a decent direction, but not particularly strong. Overnight rain then a dry day with sunny spells.

Heliport 

Howard had another good day reading several ringed Knot from various schemes, these are just three of his excellent pictures.

There are two ringed birds from different schemes on this shot

Read in flight!

Two ringed birds on this shot too - but the back flag is illegible 
The front flag is wearing away at the bottom corner where it
rubs on the abrasive surfaces where they feed (like the skear).

South shore mid morning towards high water. (PM, JR, MD)

Pale-bellied Brent goose c50 - there were c35 feeding on Red Nab at 09:45, after which they presumably went to Potts corner. At 11:10, just about high water, c50 left Potts and flew west.

Pink-Footed goose 8 out

Wigeon c180

Pintail Duck 3 out

Kittiwake 1 

Shag 1 juvenile (not seen in the morning but one was feeding on the waterfall early evening)

Rock Pipit 4 (2 on saltmarsh, 1 on foreshore and I near waterfall)

Reed Bunting 3 on saltmarsh 

Common Snipe 21 flushed by saltmarsh (more would have already been flushed)

Jack Snipe 7 (2 plus 5 individuals flushed from saltmarsh by the rising tide). Later 3 were flying around together, possibly some of the flushed birds.

Jack Snipe (not quite as sharp as Howards pictures!)

No wind blown stuff, but not too bad

As forecast last night's WSW strong wind veered to WNW and began easing by 09:00. Quite a bit of sunshine in the morning.

South shore (SC and MD)

Shaun had made an early start, but the only thing he managed over the sea, were a flock of 14 Pink-Footed goose flying in, later there was a single bird milling around close inshore.

Pale-bellied Brent Goose 51 - 09:05 they flew high over Shaun's head at the lighthouse on their way from the north side to Red Nab. At 09:45 they flew from Red Nab towards Potts corner. (Later in the afternoon  there were at least 17, including the Canadian ringed birds, out from the children's play area).

Brent flying high with the wind over the south wall roundhead 

Wigeon c160

Shelduck c30

Shag 1 juvenile showing well in the harbour

Rock Pipit 3 including the ringed male and presumed female at the lighthouse nest site.

The ringed maleRock Pipit, escorting me away from the nest site

Another colour ringed Herring gull in the harbour, also ringed at Bowland on 8th July 2021

You can read the ringing report of this and Thursday's bird on the North West Gull Project wbsite

https://www.nwgulls.org.uk/207-2021-gull-ringing-report

Mediterranean gull 1 adult behind lunchtime ferry - ref Jean

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Gadwall 37

Wigeon 2

Tufted Duck 2 male

Shoveler 4 (2 mature males plus 2 female)

Coot 1

Moorhen 9

Little grebe 1

North shore

Howard managed to to read several ringed Knot on the Heliport at high water, despite occasional disturbance from a Sparrowhawk. These are just three of his images, as ever, you will need to open these to see the ring detail.

Heysham skear - late afternoon 

Eider c80 - this clip of a mature male shows just what a splendid bird they are when seen up close.

Great Crested grebe 4, 2 in summer plumage - this clip shows the difference between a bird still in winter plumage and a more extravagant summer plumaged bird.

Knot c1,000, lowish numbers probably influenced by........

Peregrine Falcon 1

Bar-Tailed Godwit small flock of 10 on waterline before flying off north. They were already skittish and it seems that the click of my camera was the last straw - it is getting a bit worn!

Signs of stirrings?

The day started sunny with a light SE wind, but the wind shifted to SW and the cloud cover increased until rain started early evening. The winds are currently strengthening and still from WSW, but forecast to be WNW by morning, which isn't ideal for blowing stuff into the bay. 

Just my morning check of the south shore so far (MD)

Skylark 1 calling around the saltmarsh - we often get one or more wintering here, but this is the first time, to my knowledge, this winter.

Pale-bellied Brent goose 50 on Red Nab - this clip, shows some of them feeding. Some of them in the water are finding decent sized clumps of weed, suggesting that it settles out of reach between the rock crevices when the tide is out. But it must also mean that the gut weed continues to grow throughout these mild winters.

Wigeon c180

Shelduck 36

Rock Pipit 3 (1 Red Nab, 1 waterfall and 1 at the lighthouse). This is the lighthouse bird, not the ringed male breeding bird, but this one did visit the nest site, so I presume it was the female checking things out. The nest site is a hole in the the harbour wall, directly below this bird. You can tell it wants to go and look, but they never visit the nest site, when they are aware of being watched. As soon as I looked away it flew down to the hole.

House Sparrow 1 - it was in the scrub at near the lighthouse before moving into the Power Station complex. Not an exciting record, but I can't recall ever seeing one here before (although Sparrow sightings are not especially memorable). Either way, it's come from somewhere.

Shag 1 juvenile - the tide was still quite high and the waterfall well below the surface, so it was fishing along the south inner harbour wall. I watched from the lighthouse hoping to see what it might catch, but all I got were a series of their distinctive dives (their body clears the water in the initial leap).so I strung a few together, don't know why, they all look exactly the same!

I was going to say, hopefully more tomorrow. But I'm not overly optimistic, we'll see.....

Sea watching.......best described as slow!

The heavy winds didn't start until late into the night. Strong WSW in the morning veering to WNW by evening. It threatened rain all day, but mainly just light showers until evening.

Shaun (09:00-10:00) and Pete (10:30-11:40) managed a sea watch, but mainly they just watched the sea!

Red-Throated Diver 1 close in

Mediterranean gull 1 adult in

Kittiwake 2-4 adult (both observers saw two birds, possibly the same ones, albeit 2 hours apart)

Nothing behind the lunchtime ferry.

South shore (MD 09:00 - 10:15)

Shelduck 30

Wigeon c100

Pale-bellied Brent goose 48 - they were feeding on Red Nab at 09:15 and set off towards the north side on my return at 10:10 (there were a similar number out from Whinnysty Lane this afternoon). These are them setting off, not a great clip, but it does give a sense of this morning's conditions. 

Shag 1 juvenile bobbing around in the middle of the harbour.

Rock Pipits 2 - the Red Nab and lighthouse birds heard only

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just a quick look on the way home, not much change, except 2 Tufted again and 3 Shoveler. This is a nice group shot.

Three Shoveler, two Tufted, a male Wigeon and five Gadwall

Heysham skear late afternoon 

Eider c40

Great Crested Grebe 1

Knot c2,000 including one flock of c700 that came in high from the north of the bay.

Some of the Knot arriving from the north, with an Oystercatcher below

Redshank c150

Turnstone 20

Curlew 15

Ringed Plover c20 - they are very difficult to see when they are hunkered down behind a, similar looking stone. There are at least 11 plover in this clip, sorry about the juddering, but it was a bit windy!

By 15:45, the heavy rain that had been threatening all day, stopped threatening! The good thing about a west wind is that it, and the rain that it drives, is on your back as you walk off the shore.