Sunday 6 May 2007

Early bits..........then birdless dross

Heysham Obs
There was a mod/fresh southwesterly................but that was just about all which was 'right' and it appears as though the SE-bound overnight cloud/rain had provided a brick wall to any movement up the east side of the Irish Sea or indeed overland. The continuation of the low cloud until late afternoon further inhibited any movement. Apart from an early flurry, it was probably the worst seawatch ever experienced at Heysham (and JB Point) at peak spring migration time in SW winds. The Solway was similarly relatively poor, given the apparently favourable conditions, with just 2 Poms and 2 Arctics in a lengthy vigil

Seawatching north wall 0630-1400hrs
NOTHING of any note after 1115hrs
VELVET SCOTER - two landed on the sea just south of the red buoy.....but did not float past on the incoming tide
Common Scoter - 3 with the above, then peeled off
Gannet - 21
Kittiwake - flock of 11 plus one - the flock of 11 was (about 4 hours later!) the JBP 'highlight'!
Red-throated Diver - c7

Inshore
Shag - up to 4 juvs on the wooden jetty
Arctic Tern - 3-4 'blogging' on outfalls
Sandwich Tern - one around outfalls

Grounded
4 Wheatear

Moths
New for the year in the hut trap were Heart and Dart, Nutmeg and Bright-line Brown-eye

Elsewhere
Nothing worth mentioning so far other than perhaps a single Guillemot off JB Point. No sign of the escaped Night Heron