looking ready for moving.
A bright ,clear sunny day with a cold SW>4 at 6 degrees this morning but warming up to 18 degrees late p.m.
A much quieter day compared to yesterday with vis mig slow with strangely not a Swallow counted , possible moving at the east of the Nab out of the cold wind.
Mipits were coming over throughout but no big groups and all very high and hard to pick out in the bright skies.
No waders today and quiet around the shore other than 8 BH gulls and 2 LBBs on the island whilst a solitary big gull on the north bank( always a good sign) was yet another Yellow Legged Herring gull but it had gone by the afternoon. I suspect this bird arrived during yesterdays big gull move.
Only 1 juv and 1 adult Wheatear left today after yesterdays big fall, the latter seen taking a newt type creature from the dyke by the south shore track swallowing it in one.
The Black Redstart is feeding much more intensely now and showing most of the time which probably means it is getting ready to move. I stop every time I pass on the way home hoping to catch it closer for a photo but it seems reluctant to leave the safety of the buildings.
As expected, I,m finding it near impossible to concentrate on vis mig, gazing skyward, as well as scoping the large area of mud around the shorelines , as well as shuffling around the work that is going on with always one part or another out of bounds.
With shorebirds, waterfowl and gulls being my number one priority at the moment I,ve decided to follow vis mig as and when after today, just recording anything special or unusual over or any large numbers without the pressure of trying to count every individual bird.These will still be recorded on Trektellen.
Another 2 Ospreys sneaked past today with one over Manchester and one over Anglers country park, or possibly the same bird. Must be our turn soon.
Vis Mig
210 Mipits...............................>SW
4 Collared Dove.......................>W
6 House Martin.......................>SW. Several are still flying around their nest site at concrete city at the top of Whitegate.
6 Lapwing..............................>NE
Present
YL Herring gull
8 BH gull
2 LBB gull
4 Raven
3 Tufted duck
2 Wheatear
3 Kestrel
Black Redstart
PS. Sorry about the (no public access) bit every day on the title but I,m just working under instructions from Y.W.
BS.