Tuesday 5 March 2013

Seaside Sightings

Turnstone
Inspired by the lovely bright morning I hopped on a train and headed out to Morecambe for some sea air today.
It was low tide when I arrived around 10.15am and I strolled down the Stone Jetty checking the exposed sands and channels for waders.
Curlew, redshank and oystercatcher were present in good numbers and a handful of turnstone (pictured) were picking through the seaweed-strewn rocks off the jetty end.
Further out a group of around 160 black-tailed godwit were probing the mud while up to 1,000 knot rested on the banks of the main channel.

Black-headed gull
 Shelducks and cormorants were scattered around and all
the expected gulls were seen; common, herring, lesser and great black-backed as well as the ever-present black-headed gulls (pictured).
A single grey wagtail was heard passing overhead. 

Later in the day I found time to pop down to Aldcliffe just before dusk and found the green sandpiper slowly making its way around the water's edge at the Wildfowlers' Pools.
The barn owl appeared a little later than yesterday (when it emerged just before 6pm) showing up around quarter past. Once again it showed beautifully, if briefly, in the lingering light.
Jon
Sunset by the River Lune












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