Tuesday 31 March 2009

Unexpected wildfowl bonanza

Heysham Obs
Apart from Eider and few Red-breasted Merganser, wildfowl are not a major feature in the low tide channels off the north harbour wall. Today was an exception

North harbour wall 0830-0900
Scaup - pair in the nearest low tide channel
Goldeneye - 2 displaying pairs in the nearest channel, 2 separate pairs in the second channel + 5 'in' then came down in nearest channel
Wigeon - flock of 22 in nearest channel, 12+15 in second channel + 2 pairs in nearest channel later
Teal - flock of 5 in nearest channel
Red-breasted Merganser - 31 in view - mainly distantly towards the outer Grosvenor skeers
Eider - 270+ - almost all around the Grosvenor skeers
Twite - 26 - all Heysham colour ringed apart from one metal-only ringed (& see below)
Linnet - 13 on seed (see below)

Vis
Meadow Pipit - 26 north
Linnet - 7 north & 2 'in off' landing on fence by seed
Twite - one 'in-off' joining the above birds but couldnt see legs
Pink-footed Goose c30 South 1730 hrs.

Moths
Diurnea fagella and Early Thorn (2) were new for the year
Elsewhere
Great White Egret in to roost at Leighton Moss late evening. Two Ospreys north Aldcliffe during the afternoon