Tuesday 3 November 2009

Good seabird variety

Thanks Dan for this pic of the two long-staying Guillemots in the SW corner of the harbour

Heysham Obs
Rather atypical at this time of year, as opposed to late winter/spring passage, was a significant number of Kittiwake, plus a few half-decent bits and bobs

North wall 0900-0945, 1015-1130
Great Northern Diver - one out c1050hrs
Kittiwake - flock of 63 lifted off the sea, swirled around, landed on sea & floated into the bay. 215 'out' during the morning. Flock of 18 'in' during pm, then 55 'in' behind a freight ferry. Just like the old days!
Arctic/Pomarine Skua - very dark juvenile at 1030 which was chasing Kittiwakes and appeared on size & jizz to be more likely an Arctic but too distant to be sure (Jean & Dan). Landed on the sea/disappeared low behind troughs. Definitely not the Bonxie.
Razorbill - 5 out
Pintail - flocks of 10+18 out
Red-throated Diver - 1 out & one sp, prob this, out
Shelduck - 29 out (4 flocks)
Med Gull - two adults around, one Czech-ringed
Guillemot - two in harbour, one out
Bonxie - one very distant, but definitely this species of skua, 'in' at 0920hrs
Twite - 26 with 16 unringed
Wooden jetty: Definitely no Shag & no sign of any Purple Sandpiper or indeed Turnstone!

Ocean Edge/Red Nab/outfalls
Kittiwake - one ad
Little Gull - ad & 1CY
Twite - c5
Elsewhere
Fence-hopping Snow Geese still on EM Pool but no reports of any Great White Egret today or the Pine Lake Slavonian Grebe. Small westerly movement of thrushes between showers at High Tatham with 230 Redwing and 145 Fieldfare 0745-0815hrs