With it being cold and blowy again this morning I left the birding until pm. Temperatures were a little better after lunch, high enough even to make the meal worms wriggle. I located a single male Wheatear at Pilling Water, and then three minutes later the bird had a brand new shiny ring as it headed off east towards the hills. Although a bright, colourful adult male it was of only average bulk and 100 mm wing chord so was clearly of the UK variety; true Greenland types, wing >105mm are not normally due until later in the month.
Wheatear
Wheatear
A few bits and pieces on and around the incoming tide, including a good count of 430+ Redshanks. Others: 7 Red-breasted Merganser, 15 Oystercatcher, 2 Eider, 20 Grey Plover, 110 Golden Plover, 2 Little Egret, 45 Lapwing, 20 Curlew, 7 Cormorant, 4 Skylark, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Linnet and 4 Meadow Pipit.
Redshank
As I sat below the sea wall 3 Swallows came from the south and headed directly across the bay towards Heysham, my first hirundines of the year.
Back at the car park a Willow Warbler sang out loud and clear, another new one for the year!
Willow Warbler
Heading back home the Buzzard was over Burned House Lane again.
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