No porpoise in life

The Safari was out on the beach as soon as it was light enough to see but we couldn’t see yesterday’s deceased Harbour Porpoise, it hadn’t been washed up this far...it’s still out there somewhere but the longer it’s drifting around on the tide the less likely it is to be any use to the post mortem team from the Natural History Museum.

Whilst we were out we had our usual scan of the beach and sea, the regular Common Scoters were still bobbing about liked corks and the gulls were picking through yet more washed-up shells and starfish. Amongst the gulls skittered nine Sanderlings and one which had lost a leg hopped along quickly in an effort to keep up.

Oystercatchers went uncounted today but there seemed to be fewer than yesterday, Redshanks, however, had increased by a few to about two dozen, there may have been some more out of sight below us as the ones we could see were all in the runnels at the bottom of the wall.

At least the sun came out even if the wind was still on the cool side. The last couple of days certainly didn’t feel like the warmest November for 352 years!

By lunchtime the weather had deteriorated as usual, but it was mild, it was actually warmer outside on the wall than in the office!

The waders were clinging on to the last vestiges of beach as the tide rose beach and we counted 41 Oystercatchers and 33 Sanderlings; the Redshanks had already gone to roost on the wall beneath us and although we could hear them we couldn’t see them for a count. During our study of the waders on the beach a Grey Wagtail was heard, looking up we couldn’t find it though.

No change in the scoter situation but we did have something a bit different in the form of a pair of Pintails (P2 #72) flying northwards over them – which was nice! Nothing else of interest though, the Walney Island Long Tailed Duck seems to not want to go a-travelling just yet.

Patch 1 after work in the dark a quick look at the tower gave us just one roosting Peregrine, great when you can go out and that is the only species of bird seen! We did hear a Grey Plover calling as it flew coastwards though.

Thankfully it’s only three weeks until the nights start drawing out again...

Still no pics so you can have a cold and watery wintery sunset from a few years ago.

Where to next? More Patch 2 unless we can coerce Frank into going as far as Magpie Wood for a count of the roost there.

In the meantime let us know what’s flying over the regulars in your outback...