Summer update

To quote the legendary Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd, "All movement is accomplished in 6 stages, but the seventh brings return" In this case the blog is in three stages, starting with WOW which continues to produce the odd surprise amid a lot of new families. The biggest surprise was the feral barnacle goose I mentioned in the last blog, but there's always something to look for like the single knot which kept us guessing for a bit. Finally got a sandwich tern on the reserve, in fact there were 60+ which is a bit unusual. Also added Manx shearwater and meadow pipit to the NDCP list with a walk along the coastal path

Shelduck family

Shoveler starting to eclipse

Black-headed gull chicks

Tufty pair

Common tern

Knot

Med gull v black-headed gull

Good year for BHG chicks

The second stage is a twice postponed trip to the Gobbins and Muck Island, with all the expected gulls and auks. No stunning pictures, just nice scenes. Listwise I only added puffin and kittiwake, but I still managed 23 species and we found a peregrine nest with two chicks and not an adult in sight. Most odd and we are still searching for an explanation. A later boat trip did find an adult so all is well. 

Sandwich seeking herring gull

Breeding auks

Yes the weather was good.

The views were good as well

More guillemots

How did we get that shot?

Even closer!!

The third stage was the trip across to Bolton to catch up with he family and the chance to visit the odd bird reserve now that I am more mobile and pain free. We had a trip to Burton Mere again and an amble round Elton Reservoir. Burton Mere gave stunning views of a great white egret and added spotted redshank and reed warbler  to the list as well as singing Cetti's warbler, chiffchaffs and loads of avocets.  Elton was relatively quiet with only singing willow warblers but it was dry enough to walk round the north side without needing wellies and that was nice. The feeders had a willow tit along with the usual multitude of goldfinches. All in all a very pleasant morning with  the thermometer at 24 Celsius. 

Elton reservoir

Burton Mere

Great white egret

2024

139: Whitethroat

140: Kittiwake

141: Puffin

142: Spotted redshank

143:Reed warbler

144: Manx shearwater

NDCP

55: Meadow pipit

56: Manx shearwater

WOW

75: Sandwich tern