Quite a variety passing through

A fresh SE wind increased in strength and ended up from SW. mainly dry with some sunny periods in the afternoon.

Two quick checks of the horse field at Imperial road saw only two Little Egrets today.

South shore

I managed two checks (Malcolm). A short check of the foreshore in the morning towards high water and a walk along the sea wall in the afternoon.

Morning - quite a bit along the foreshore 

Common Sandpiper 1

Common Sandpiper

Wheatear 8

Wheatear 

Common Snipe 3

Linnet 8 (3, 5) in off

Alba Wagtail 1 in off

Mallard pair on the saltmarsh 

Afternoon - by this time the wind was very strong from the south.

Shag 1 adult. It came from the north side and landed out from the harbour mouth. It then allowed itself to drift with the tide till it was close to the wooden jetty.

When it was  "close enough" it flew to the jetty, surprisingly ending up on one of the most exposed spots.

Shag on the post centre of picture. Not its regular resting place.

Willow Warbler/Chiffchaff 5 at least in brambles between lighthouse and waterfall, most if not all were Willow Warbler.

White Wagtail 1 briefly on the roundhead. Neither of us could barely stand!

White Wagtail 

Rock Pipit 1 near lighthouse 

North shore

Andrew McCafferty checked from the north sea wall

Red-Throated Diver 1

Guillemot 1

Pete had an unexpected opportunity to scope for some Knot rings, as the Knot were resting on top of the old heliport sea wall, despite the lowish tide. At least they were, till a Sparrowhawk took one.

Swallow 1 north

White Wagtail 1

Jean checked a few areas:

Vismig over Heysham Head: 

Linnet 37

Siskin 2

Redpoll 1

Redwing 1. 

Also 3 Willow Warblers singing.

MNR - 5 Willow Warblers singing.

HNR - 5 Willow Warblers singing, 4 Chiffchaffs singing. 

Heliport 1 Common Snipe

Just out of the recording area - horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall

Glossy Ibis seen in the morning at least.

First Cattle Egret for the Observatory........nevertheless, anticipated!

Some light overnight showers followed by an heavy early morning shower, a few more showers during the day. A light south wind

Cattle Egret 4 - after an influx further south two days ago, Pete advised:

Serious consideration needs to be given to the egret gang the other side of the road at Imperial road roundabout.  Massive cattle egret influx eg 14 Conder pool this afternoon which then dispersed.  They do mix when loafing

So I checked yesterday morning (Malcolm). 14 Egrets, all Little, but on checking this morning 12 Little Egret and 4 Cattle Egret. It is nice when a plan works out!

This is a location shot, just to the NE of Imperial Rd roundabout on the bypass (Bay gateway)

They seemed to be finding plenty to eat

They are all in this clip.

I left them to it, Pete put the news out and Shaun arrived just in time to see all the egrets lifted by something. The Little Egrets settled nearby but the four Cattle Egret continued west over the recording area, and couldn't be relocated afterwards.

Also at Imperial Rd

Mute Swan 2

Shelduck 2

Buzzard 1

Kestrel 1

A fine buck Roe Deer, still with velvet on his antlers 

Pale-bellied Brent goose 7 (5 + 2) on Red Nab at high water.

The group of 5 moved closer inshore, partly to have a drink from the freshwater runoff......

........but the gutweed is lusher closer in too

Just out of the recording area - horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall

Glossy Ibis seen in the morning and afternoon 

A decent variety on a decent day

It just about stayed dry, but overcast. A light NE breeze drifting round to east after lunch.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

I did exactly the same circuit this morning as I did yesterday morning (Malcolm). As expected most of the Willow Warbler had moved on.

Willow Warbler 2

Chiffchaff 5

Cetti's warbler 7 - same locations as yesterday except no birds in SE corner of "no swimming" pond and middle of west bank of main ponds heard. One singing from the western marsh today was not heard yesterday.

Canada Goose 5 low to the north

Canada geese

I had hoped this clip would pick up their noisy honking. Unfortunately drowned out by an even noisier Cetti's warbler, they do seem to react to other loud noises.

Mute Swan - pair plus 4 immature 

Mallard 6 - pair plus 4 males

Gadwall 2 males 1 female

Teal 1 male

Tufted Duck pair (this clip also has Cetti's singing - you can't get away from them!)

Little Grebe 1

Moorhen 2

Coot 5 - not sure if this is a bonding or a territorial display. Looks affectionate enough.

Swallow 1

Mark Jones also enjoyed a walk around. One addition to the above.

Jay 1

A nice shot of a Wren at Half-moon Bay - Janet

Heysham skear - low water 15:10

An easy walk, as the tide doesn't go out too far on these neap tides and at this time it was almost breathless (Malcolm).

Little Egret 8

Eider 72

This is the same mussel covered rock and presumably the same male Eider
I showed on Monday. He clearly regards it as his personal larder!

Red-breasted Merganser 8

Waders similar to recent, including two lots of Bar-Tailed Godwit 31 and 26. Neither were feeding. This is the first lot, with Knot, Redshank, Turnstone and Oystercatcher (although the Turnstone isn't easy to spot)

These are some of the other group starting to be moved on by the rising tide. Watch the bird that begins on the left.

South Shore 

Harbour Porpoise 1 seen by Kevin Eaves in the harbour and he managed this nice, albeit short clip.

We are now up to seven nests in the Rookery on the southern boundary of the recording area

Just out of the recording area 

Mark Jones advises that there is an increasing presence of Rooks at feeding stations at his and other holiday caravans just south of the recording area.

Rooks

Horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall

Glossy Ibis not seen in the morning but was feeding by 14:00

Lots of warblers!

It was fine this morning till an heavy shower began at 08:30 and continued for an hour. More showers began about 11:00 till early afternoon, then mainly fine. A light SE breeze to lunchtime when it shifted to the west and became quite fresh.

A couple of shots by Janet from Heysham Nature Reserve yesterday 

Snakes Head Fritillary

A pair of Small Tortoiseshell butterflies 

Middleton Nature Reserve 

For once I timed it just right (Malcolm). The heavy early rain was just stopping, I had only planned to check the "no swimming" pond, but there were so many warblers singing that I walked around to the main pond, then checked the fence pond from the roadside.

Cetti's warbler 8 - 1 in three of the 4 "no swimming" pond corners (NE, SE and SW), 1 in the middle of the central marsh, 1 near the pumping station at the NE corner of central marsh, 1 in bushes in the middle of the west side of main pond (not a known territory here), 1 in SE corner of main pond and 1 in NW corner of the Fence pond.

Chiffchaff 6 at least

Willow Warbler 6 at least - it's nice to hear them again! The birds in this compilation are Willow Warbler although there are Chiffchaff singing as well (plus a Pheasant calling). They look much more at home in the willows today than on my lawn yesterday!

Willow warbler

No sign of any Goosander again.

Mute Swan adult pair plus 5 immature 

Gadwall 3 - 2 males

Mallard 2 males

Coot 4

Moorhen 2

Gadwall drake and a Moorhen

South shore (Malcolm)

A quick check of the Nature park this morning heard at least one Willow Warbler. No sign in the evening.

I walked down to the waterline again this evening, but for some reason all the waders were much further south today. No point in trying to follow them they just keep on south. My only company were a few south bound Curlew and a flock of 31 Bar-Tailed Godwit south!

Shelduck 2

Pale-bellied Brent goose 7 on Red Nab. Clearly two lots, one of two and one of five.

Rock Pipit 2 on Red Nab

Just out of the recording area - horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall

Glossy Ibis seen in the morning, not checked later

First Willow warbler, but not quite where expected

A dry sunny day. A very light SE breeze freshened slightly as it moved to the north.

Heysham Nature Reserve (Janet)

Blue Tit, its ring characters clear to see (unfortunately not enough of them)

Jay

Female Bullfinch 

One of several Chiffchaff 

Buck and doe Roe deer

Middleton Nature reserve 

Just a passing check of the "no swimming" pond. No sign of any Goosander today. Three Chiffchaff and two Cetti's warbler singing (Cettis from SE and NE corners of the pond)

Heysham skear - low water 11:50

It was a lovely walk in the sun compared to yesterday's rain (Malcolm).

Little Egret 10 - there are seven feeding in this pool with a female/1st winter Red-breasted Merganser.

Pale-bellied Brent goose 5

1 and 4 Pale-bellied Brent geese either side of conger rock

Eider 105

Red-breasted Merganser 5. This pair decided that it was time to leave, or rather, the female decided that it was time to leave and the male followed.

Female and male Red-breasted Merganser

This female/1st winter was close inshore.

Knot c2000 initially, but this Peregrine did several sorties and cleared them off the skear. They had gone by the time of this clip, the Peregrine was just checking. Not a great clip of the Peregrine, but it does demonstrate the unusual lighting conditions this lunchtime.

Bar-Tailed godwit 36 - this clip ends with them flying over conger rock

Oystercatcher 750

Curlew 25

Redshank 120

Turnstone 80

South shore 

I walked out to the waterline 2 hours before high water (Malcolm). But these neap tides don't rise very high and I was at the waterline before the waders. But it wasn't long before they arrived. These are the godwits and just some of the Knot arriving.

Bar-Tailed Godwit 250

Knot 2,500

Dunlin 200

I checked the Knot for rings and only found three. One was probably the same bird as yesterday with an obscured code on an orange flag. This one has a pale green flag also obscured! But possibly only on one side, unfortunately it was only walking in one direction away from the rising tide. 

A bit frustrating, but I did manage to read the third bird.

Shelduck 1

Wheatear 5 on the saltmarsh 

Three Wheatears

And where was the Willow warbler? In my garden just after lunch (Malcolm). 

Unusually, feeding on the ground on my immaculately manicured lawn! 

First Willow Warbler of the year

Just out of the recording area - horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall

Glossy Ibis seen in the morning, not checked later

Mainly waders, and wet ones at that!

It rained pretty much all day. A light east wind.

Just my stuff so far (Malcolm)

Middleton Nature Reserve 

A quick passing check of the "no swimming" pond saw the female Goosander has returned.

Two Chiffchaff singing and a singing Cetti's warbler in the SW corner of the pond.

Heysham skear - low water 10:45

No geese

Eider 67 - this male was trying to dislodge mussels from a rock.

Red-breasted Merganser 5

Waders similar to yesterday except

Bar-Tailed Godwit 74 - feeding along the waterline on the south side of the skear. One catches a decent sized Lugworm in this clip.

South shore on rising tide in the afternoon 

I went down an hour earlier in the tide than yesterday, there were a lot of waders along the waterline, but not much variety. Mainly Knot, at least 2,500, plus more further south. These neap tides the water only comes in slowly, allowing more time for them to feed. These are just a tiny fraction of the Knot. The next but last bird in this clip sports an orange flag.

Knot with coded orange flag. Unfortunately in this case the code was obscured.

Bar-Tailed Godwit 200

Bar-Tailed Godwit

Don't know where the Dunlin were. There were less than 10 with the Knot

Oystercatcher 60

Redshank 75 closer to the saltmarsh 

Shelduck 9

Pale-bellied Brent goose 5 on Red Nab. They appear to be a family group, 2 adult and 3 first winter.

Just out of the recording area - horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall

Glossy Ibis seen in the morning, not checked later

Little change

Another warm and mainly sunny day with a light ESE wind

South Shore

A couple of shots by Janet in the Nature Park 

Greenfinch

Chiffchaff 

I checked the waterline just beyond the saltmarsh towards afternoon high water (Malcolm). Initially lots of waders but something spooked all but the Oystercatchers and they headed off towards Potts.

Oystercatcher 80

Bar-Tailed Godwit 150

Knot 300

Dunlin 200

Just a fraction of this afternoon's waders before departing to Potts

Two overwintering Small Tortoiseshell managed to find each other on the saltmarsh.
Hopefully the long wait will prove worthwhile.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

No sign of any Goosander today. Plenty of Chiffchaff and Cetti's warbler singing.

Heysham skear - low water 10:00

Third morning in a row I have checked here (Malcolm). Party hoping for something "good" to pass over, but also it is nice and quiet out here when everywhere else is busy.

No sign of any Brent geese today.

Pink-Footed goose a low loose flock of 51 were heading south along the middle of the bay. They looked to have been flushed by the rising tide.

Eider c60 many flying north

Red-breasted Merganser 8

Great Crested Grebe 1

Oystercatcher much fewer today c500

Curlew 2

Bar-Tailed Godwit 8. One was feeding along the mud just south of the skear and these seven came in from the south, joining Knot, Redshank and Oystercatcher.

Knot 1,000

Redshank 60

Turnstone 80

Dunlin 30

From Pete:

Red throated diver non breeding plumage off half moon bay

Eider 919 from harbour to teal bay 

A nice day, but nothing new.

A very pleasant sunny morning, some cloud cover later in the afternoon, but dry. A light SE breeze.

A nice shot of a male Eider by the wooden jetty - Kevin Eaves

Heysham skear low water - 08:25 (MD)

Pale-bellied Brent goose 11 - they were just resting on small islands on the western edge of the skear, till moved on by the tide. They then drifted round to the south of the skear. One of them has two white darvic rings. The clip begins with a few Knot coming in to land.

It wasn't possible to read the rings, but it is likely the Icelandic ringed bird seen earlier in the winter.

Pink-Footed goose 30 east.

Pinkfoot passing over, becoming a less frequent event now

Eider were similar numbers to yesterday. Pete managed to count 64 from Heysham Head

Red-breasted Merganser 9

Shag 1 feeding on the south side

There were a few more waders around today.

Oystercatcher 1,500

Bar-Tailed Godwit 3

Curlew 34

Knot 1,000

Redshank 60

Turnstone 80

Dunlin 50

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just the briefest of checks at the "no swimming" pond. Still 1 female Goosander, the male mute having given up trying to chase her off. For now.

Cetti's warbler 2 singing 

Chiffchaff 2

Just out of the recording area

Scaup 1 drake near Teal Bay (where most of the Eider are too) - Pete

 

Glossy Ibis in the horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall. This morning at least.

I didn't check today (Malcolm), but took this clip yesterday as its feeding habits have changed. It was feeling, not probing in the water. It catches something at the end of this clip which appears to be a tadpole.

Glossy Ibis with what can only be a tadpole. It has been such an effective feeder in
this terrain. It almost seems like it evolved specifically to live in this horse paddock!
Obviously, it's real skill is locating an area that it is ideally adapted for.

Not really "good", we'll go for reasonable Friday

A day of two halves, a lovely sunny morning with a light SE breeze. It clouded over in the afternoon and the rain, often heavy started about 14:00.

Pale-bellied Brent goose 13 minimum - there were 9 resting on the skear at low water. Janet saw 9 arrive at Red Nab, followed by 2 more. Later 13 were resting on the sea out from Red Nab.

9 Brent arriving at Red Nab

13 Brent resting on the sea out from Red Nab

Wigeon 4 at Red Nab

Also on the skear this morning (Malcolm) - low water 08:00.

Little Egret 3

Eider 88

Female and male Eider

Red-breasted Merganser 10

Female or first winter Red-breasted Merganser

Goosander 1 - in previous years this would be a significant record. But it doesn't feel so this year, there having been so many for so long on Middleton Nature Reserve this spring.

Female or first winter Goosander heading west.

Ringed Plover 3 flew out to the west, they are normally restricted to the inner skear here.

Other waders as recent.

Other stuff along the south sea wall (Janet)

One of two little Egret on Red Nab

One of many Redshank on Red Nab

One of two Rock Pipit at the lighthouse nest site

This Sea Slater was definitely not having a good Friday!
Caught by the sea wall Rock Pipit, but for some reason discarded 

Only to be eaten by an observant Turnstone 

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just a quick morning check of the two main ponds (Malcolm)

Goosander 1 female being chased by the male Mute Swan.

Little Grebe 4 at least. 1 seen and heard on the "no swimming" pond plus 3 seen on the main pond.

Pheasant 1 male calling

Swallow, stopped briefly for a drink from the main pond before continuing north

Cetti's warbler 3

Chiffchaff 3

Just out of the recording area - horse paddock behind Middleton Parish Hall

Glossy Ibis seen in the morning, not checked later