14:00 Grey cloud 16 o C. Wind SW 6mph. Humidity 77%. Pressure 1016mB. Visibility moderate. High tide today 12:21, 9.67m.
Lock gates open.
A few yachts, a narrow boat and a couple of motor boats passing through the lock into the marina today.
In the dock basin
Black-headed gull x20
Coot x 1
There were upwards of 10 goldfinches jostling for position on the garden feeders today. It looks like all this year's young have fledged, the sparrowhawk notwithstanding.
There's something peaceful about taking time out to watch wildlife, it's good for the soul to lose yourself in nature. A twitcher might take a look in the dock basin and say 'nothing there', a birder will happily watch the gulls' behaviour for a while.
Saturday 19 September 2009
Friday 18 September 2009
Friday 18 September 2009
15:30 Sunny intervals 17 o C. Wind S 6mph. Humidity 62%. Pressure 1017mB. Visibility good. High tide today 23:47, 9.87m.
Lock gates closed.
After a chill grey morning the sun has finally broken through.
Both swans, several mallards and coots, plus the usual mix of black-headed, herring and lesser black-backed gulls are sunning themselves on the pontoons in the Albert Edward dock.
The dock basin is almost deserted.
Black-headed gull x 4
Coot x 3
Lock gates closed.
After a chill grey morning the sun has finally broken through.
Both swans, several mallards and coots, plus the usual mix of black-headed, herring and lesser black-backed gulls are sunning themselves on the pontoons in the Albert Edward dock.
The dock basin is almost deserted.
Black-headed gull x 4
Coot x 3
Wednesday 16 September 2009
Wednesday 16 September 2009
14:30 Cloud 17 o C. Wind NE 7mph. Humidity 65%. Pressure 1027mB. Visibility good. High tide today 22:25, 8.99m.
Lock gates closed.
Teasels on the Bullnose
In the dock basin
Black-headed gull x 16
Coot x 1
Mallard x 11
Lock gates closed.
Teasels on the Bullnose
In the dock basin
Black-headed gull x 16
Coot x 1
Mallard x 11
Tuesday 15 September 2009
Tuesday 15 September 2009
14:00 Sunny intervals 17 o C. Wind NE 8mph. Humidity 57%. Pressure 1027mB. Visibility very good. High tide today 21:38, 8.32m.
The east wind feels somewhat chilly, but still a pleasant dry Autumn day with plenty of sunny intervals.
Lock gates closed.
In the dock basin
Black-headed gull x 15
Coot x 2
Mallard x 11
Cormorant x 1
Moorhen x 2
The east wind feels somewhat chilly, but still a pleasant dry Autumn day with plenty of sunny intervals.
Lock gates closed.
In the dock basin
Black-headed gull x 15
Coot x 2
Mallard x 11
Cormorant x 1
Moorhen x 2
Sunday 13 September 2009
Sunday 13 September 2009
16:00 Sunny 18 o C. Wind NE 9mph. Humidity 53%. Pressure 1030mB. Visibility good. High tide today 18:38, 7.44m.
Lock gates closed.
A quiet day, apart from the train enthusiasts and photographers. The boat yard is silent for once, no hammering, drilling or other signs of industry. I guess the 'summer sailors' are all but gone now until next year.
In the dock basin
Black-headed gull x 50
Coot x 2
Mallard x 9
One solitary swallow was seen flying over the river end of the dock basin, I hope it hasn't left migration too late
Lock gates closed.
A quiet day, apart from the train enthusiasts and photographers. The boat yard is silent for once, no hammering, drilling or other signs of industry. I guess the 'summer sailors' are all but gone now until next year.
In the dock basin
Black-headed gull x 50
Coot x 2
Mallard x 9
One solitary swallow was seen flying over the river end of the dock basin, I hope it hasn't left migration too late
Saturday 12 September 2009
Saturday 12 September 2009
13:00 Sunny 18 o C. Wind NW 9mph. Humidity 55%. Pressure 1031mB. Visibility very good. High tide today 17:05, 7.68m.
Lock gates closed.
The weather remains fine, bringing the weekend visitors and train enthusiasts. It has also brought out a few butterflies enjoying the warm autumn sun.
Ribble Steam Railway are having a Gala Weekend, running engines from the museum, along with a visiting engine from the Lakeside Line in Cumbria.
In the dock basin
Black-headed gull x 40
Coot x 1
Mallard x 4
Lock gates closed.
The weather remains fine, bringing the weekend visitors and train enthusiasts. It has also brought out a few butterflies enjoying the warm autumn sun.
Ribble Steam Railway are having a Gala Weekend, running engines from the museum, along with a visiting engine from the Lakeside Line in Cumbria.
In the dock basin
Black-headed gull x 40
Coot x 1
Mallard x 4
Thursday 10 September 2009
Thursday 10 September 2009
16:00 Sunny 19 o C. Wind NW 6mph. Humidity 56%. Pressure 1037mB. Visibility very good. High tide today 15:15, 8.52m.
Lock gates open.
Another beautiful autumn day down here, the sun has brought the bees out. There are still flowers around for them, like this patch of oxeye daisies.
In the dock basin
Black-headed gull x 30
Coot x 3
Mallard x 2
Lock gates open.
Another beautiful autumn day down here, the sun has brought the bees out. There are still flowers around for them, like this patch of oxeye daisies.
In the dock basin
Black-headed gull x 30
Coot x 3
Mallard x 2
Wednesday 9 September 2009
Wednesday 9 September 2009
13:00 Sunny 16 o C. Wind NW 8mph. Humidity 63%. Pressure 1031mB. Visibility very good. High tide today 14:37, 8.79m.
Lock gates closed initially, just opening as I came away..
A lovely, peaceful autumn day down here, feeling cooler. Large number of black-headed gulls finding something interesting in the mud bank, both swans were feeding in the shallow channel.
In the dock basin
Black-headed gull x 80
Common Gull x 1
Coot x 3
Mute swan x 2
Lock gates closed initially, just opening as I came away..
A lovely, peaceful autumn day down here, feeling cooler. Large number of black-headed gulls finding something interesting in the mud bank, both swans were feeding in the shallow channel.
In the dock basin
Black-headed gull x 80
Common Gull x 1
Coot x 3
Mute swan x 2
Tuesday 8 September 2009
Tuesday 8 September 2009
15:00 Cloudy 20 o C. Wind SW 18mph. Humidity 87%. Pressure 1010mB. Visibility poor. High tide today 14:04, 8.95m.
Lock gates open
Weather somewhat changeable, mostly grey cloud.
A very quiet day on the dock, children back at school & fewer walkers about. All the swallows are gone now.
Some boat movement today - one in, one out.
In the dock basin
Black-headed gull x 30
Coot x 3
Mallard x 2
Lock gates open
Weather somewhat changeable, mostly grey cloud.
A very quiet day on the dock, children back at school & fewer walkers about. All the swallows are gone now.
Some boat movement today - one in, one out.
In the dock basin
Black-headed gull x 30
Coot x 3
Mallard x 2
Monday 7 September 2009
Monday 7 September 2009
14:30 Sunny 18 o C. Wind W 7mph. Humidity 72%. Pressure 1017mB. Visibility good. High tide today 13:34, 9.02m.
A much better day today, hope we've seen the last of Hurricane Bill.
There is a pleasant woodland walk which goes towards Lockside Road and starts alongside the railway line, near the level crossing bbehind the marina. There is a signpost on Navigation Way.
There are a great many bushes along the path bearing these white fruits, which rather resemble the polysterene balls sold by craft shops. So far I haven't been able to find out what they are. The birds don't seem to bother with them.
A much better day today, hope we've seen the last of Hurricane Bill.
There is a pleasant woodland walk which goes towards Lockside Road and starts alongside the railway line, near the level crossing bbehind the marina. There is a signpost on Navigation Way.
There are a great many bushes along the path bearing these white fruits, which rather resemble the polysterene balls sold by craft shops. So far I haven't been able to find out what they are. The birds don't seem to bother with them.
Saturday 5 September 2009
Docklands Flora
Some of the flowers seen around the bullnose in the last couple of months.
A white Buddleia, complete with a Red Admiral showing why it's often called the butterfly bush.
The bees seem to enjoy ragwort, which can be poisonous to livestock in some circumstances, though not to humans.
Hedge Bindweed, or convolvulus,
I love the colour of this knapweed.
Pretty as it is, I don't think this one's a Riversway native.
A white Buddleia, complete with a Red Admiral showing why it's often called the butterfly bush.
The bees seem to enjoy ragwort, which can be poisonous to livestock in some circumstances, though not to humans.
Hedge Bindweed, or convolvulus,
I love the colour of this knapweed.
Pretty as it is, I don't think this one's a Riversway native.
Thursday 3 September 2009
Thursday 3 September 2009
Albert Edward dock
14:30 Cloud, heavy showers 12 o C. Wind W 20mph. Humidity 87%. Pressure 995mB. Visibility poor. High tide today 23:46, 8.97m.
What a wild and windy day, very choppy water in the dock. The cormorants are having problems getting airborne.
I haven't seen the terns for a few days so decided to take a look at the hest. Quite a bit of the nesting material is gone and no sign of any terns. They usually fledge at around 4 weeks, so am hoping they have simply moved on.
Mute swan x 2
Cormorant x 10
Coot x 5
Mallard x 20
Black-headed gull x 50
Herring gull x 5
Lesser black-backed gull x 5
14:30 Cloud, heavy showers 12 o C. Wind W 20mph. Humidity 87%. Pressure 995mB. Visibility poor. High tide today 23:46, 8.97m.
What a wild and windy day, very choppy water in the dock. The cormorants are having problems getting airborne.
I haven't seen the terns for a few days so decided to take a look at the hest. Quite a bit of the nesting material is gone and no sign of any terns. They usually fledge at around 4 weeks, so am hoping they have simply moved on.
Mute swan x 2
Cormorant x 10
Coot x 5
Mallard x 20
Black-headed gull x 50
Herring gull x 5
Lesser black-backed gull x 5
Wednesday 2 September 2009
Wednesday 2 September 2009
Preston Marina
14:30 Heavy showers, 16 o C. Wind SSW 10mph. Humidity 73%. Pressure 1004mB. Visibility poor. High tide today 23:13, 8.65m.
It's too wet for bird watching today, other than saying there are gulls out there. The light is too poor to see colours of feathers, legs, etc.
The gulls most often seen around here are black-headed gulls. Black-headed gulls actually have dark chocolate-brown heads which are white up the back, and in winter they have white heads. The juvenile gulls are brown and stripey, rather than grey and white. They're smaller than common or herring gulls, but you don't always have anything to compare sizes with. They have a red bill and legs.
If you see a very small gull with an all-black head it could be little gull, which is an occasional visitor. I've seen one at Leighton Moss but never around here.
If you see a gull the same size as a black-headed gull with an all-black head it could be a Mediterranean gull, which is a very rare visitor. I've never seen one of these here.
The RSPB has a handy bird identifier to help you put a name to any birds you see.
14:30 Heavy showers, 16 o C. Wind SSW 10mph. Humidity 73%. Pressure 1004mB. Visibility poor. High tide today 23:13, 8.65m.
It's too wet for bird watching today, other than saying there are gulls out there. The light is too poor to see colours of feathers, legs, etc.
The gulls most often seen around here are black-headed gulls. Black-headed gulls actually have dark chocolate-brown heads which are white up the back, and in winter they have white heads. The juvenile gulls are brown and stripey, rather than grey and white. They're smaller than common or herring gulls, but you don't always have anything to compare sizes with. They have a red bill and legs.
If you see a very small gull with an all-black head it could be little gull, which is an occasional visitor. I've seen one at Leighton Moss but never around here.
If you see a gull the same size as a black-headed gull with an all-black head it could be a Mediterranean gull, which is a very rare visitor. I've never seen one of these here.
The RSPB has a handy bird identifier to help you put a name to any birds you see.
Tuesday 1 September 2009
Tuesday 1 September 2009
Preston Marina
14:30 Heavy showers, 16 o C. Wind SSW 12mph. Humidity 85%. Pressure 1000mB. Visibility good. High tide today 22:35, 8.23m.
A short walk today, rain stopped play. No people & very few birds about around the marina, guess they've been more sensible than me & kept out of the rain. The coots appeared to be sheltering under the public jetty.
Coot x 2
Cormorant x 3
Black-headed gull x 6
Common gull x 2
14:30 Heavy showers, 16 o C. Wind SSW 12mph. Humidity 85%. Pressure 1000mB. Visibility good. High tide today 22:35, 8.23m.
A short walk today, rain stopped play. No people & very few birds about around the marina, guess they've been more sensible than me & kept out of the rain. The coots appeared to be sheltering under the public jetty.
Coot x 2
Cormorant x 3
Black-headed gull x 6
Common gull x 2
