Thursday 24 January 2008

Rough seas and spray hamper viewing

Heysham Obs
The sea was crashing over the tower at the Near Naze at lunchtime in fairly marginal conditions for ferry traffic. The end of the harbour wall was a no-go area, impeding observations of the ferry before reaching the harbour and also searches of the outer harbour.

North harbour wall 1145-1215hrs
Kittiwake - flock of 41 headed into the Bay, perhaps representing most of the birds which had been behind the slowly moving passenger ferry. Just three were seen remaining behind the ferry when it turned into the harbour.
Fulmar - one into the Bay just prior to the Kittiwakes
Med Gull - 2nd W cruising along the north wall, ad later in the afternoon doing the same
Cormorant - a highish count of 38 on the wooden jetty but still no Shag records this year

Middleton IE
Female Pochard, 8 Tufted, 4 Goldeneye, 8 Coot, 2 Mute Swan, 6 Mallard, one Little Grebe (IOY)

Elsewhere
Female Scaup, Purple Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank Stone jetty area. A few Kittiwakes around the Stone Jetty early afternoon, perhaps some of the presumed 'ferry birds' seen flying into the Bay from Heysham as there was definitely no evidence of passage flocks or storm-driven birds in the very clear conditions. European White-fronted Goose still at Catshaw Fell edge with the Greylag flock