Wednesday 14 February 2007

No Kittiwakes left

Heysham Obs
First chance to really get a good look round myself this afternoon and I can confirm that all the likely bolt-holes for off-passage Kittiwake were checked and none seen. Most unusual - a significant influx (as happened in Dec/Jan) usually leads to a few 1st W birds hanging around until the late spring.

Ad Little Gull seaward end Heysham One outfall, 1st W Little Gull inner end of Stage 2 outfall. Just 6 juv Shag by the harbour 'waterfall'. Ad and 1st W Med Gull north harbour wall.

Common Buzzard "seen from" the recording area near Heysham Moss. There were no sightings in/seen from the Heysham Obs recording area last year!

Elsewhere
Excellent pics taken today of the Purple Sandpiper on the LDBWS site from Simon Hawtin. A distant herd of swans on the Lune floodplain opposite Farleton this morning comprised at least 11 Whooper and at least 8 Mute and some which could not be seen properly. There was also an adult Med Gull well into summer plumage roaming around with a highly mobile Common/Black-headed Gull flock. 3 Spotted Redshank at Conder Pool.