Sunday 28 March 2010

Cold Cumbrian Cataract Challenge

Heysham Obs
The first 1.5 miles was a no-go area for other than seagulls, Meadow Pipits and a couple of Red-throats.  Further out (i.e. Cumbriaish) with a shaking 'scope, there were small seagull-type things, things with a whirring flight and Gannets.  Out of the mire of uncertainty (not helped by central right eye cataract):

North wall 0830-1030 new time
Sandwich Tern - at least 16, the first of the year
Little Gull - two adults were recognisable
Razorbill - 1 out
Guillemot - 2 out
Razorbill/Guillemot - 4 out
Red-throated Diver - 2 out
Diver spp (probably Red-throat) - 3 in
Gannet - c36, including string of 12
Kittwake - 5 (f) out, 16 (f) in
Purple Sandpiper - 2 wooden jetty
Turnstone - an increase to c186 wooden jetty
Twite - c40, possibly more
Meadow Pipit - c35 north 0900-1030

Ocean Edge foreshore
Wheatear & Rock Pipit

Elsewhere
Why didnt I do the Kent work today/tomorrow via Minsmere - last minute personnel change & just cannot go for foreseeable future [Lesser Kestrel]?
Nothing much locally today, other than this morning's distant Heysham seabirds which dont seem to have been replicated at JBP (wind too NW).  At least one person failed to locate the Dalton Shrike which does seem to go awol in windy conditions from a direction providing no shelter i.e. other than N/NE