Sunday 14 January 2007

quieter weather, fewer birds

Late evening update

Heysham Obs
Reports from today include: (a maximum of) 10 Little Gulls on outfalls (5 1st W), 25-30 Kittiwakes around the general area, 15-16 Shag in the harbour and Ad & 1st W Med Gull on the NH wall. NO sign of the Guillemot in the inner harbour [see yesterdays posting for picture (added today) showing what you missed!]


Thanks very much to Sean Gray for these pictures taken yesterday (usual north harbour wall 1st W Med Gull)

In addition, there were four Twite on the mound, all colour-marked, comprising birds ringed at this location as follows: a winter 2002/3 individual which has lost its site ring, another winter 2002/3 individual, a winter 2004/5 individual and one ringed in autumn 2005. Thanks for the info, Gavin.

Middleton Industrial Est wetlands - 8-10am
3 mute, 9 coot, (only) 1 moorhen, 2 little grebe (fence & Tim Butler ponds), 3 goldeneye (pair + lone male), 8 tufted, 14 teal, 4 mallard, 6 snipe.

Elsewhere
The Lune valley Whooper Swan flock just north of Loyne Bridge, Gressingham (often viewable from high point layby on A683 nearer Melling) appeared to have reached 9 but birds obscured behind hedge.

There were 7 Bewick's Swan with 90+ Mutes along Jeremy Lane (S of Glasson)

Med Gull P96 on Lancaster City Football ground! See 7th January for ringing details.

Leighton Moss could be described as 'pretty dead' (see LDBWS website); the escaped Ferruginous Duck was still present, there was one Bittern sighting and the Pochard numbers were very low (are they back at Pine Lake?)