Heysham Obs
North harbour wall 0.25hrs early morning & 0930-1030
Arctic Tern - 6+36 NE
Arctic Skua - pale morph blogging - quite distant c1000hrs
Sandwich Tern - 29 in
Swallow - 47 in
House Martin - 2 in
Meadow Pipit - 1 in
Swift - 2 in
North harbour wall 1540-1600
Dark-bellied Brent Goose - one seemingly "forced off" Red Nab by the tide headed diagonally across the bay to the north, therefore always rather distant in unimpressive afternoon light & Brant/hybrid not ruled out (obvious 'necklace')
Swallow - 39NE, mostly along the seawall & some probably missed
Heysham Nature Reserve
Willow Warbler - three trapped and two others 'bounced' out of the net before the wind got up at c0730hrs
Whitethroat - one ringed, at least two other migrants seen
Wheatear - one on adjoining non-operational land
Ocean Edge
Wheatear - 2
Whimbrel - 3 on foreshore
Moths
The charismatic Brown Silver Line made its first appearance
Elsewhere
Arrangements have been made to view a distant and elusive singing male Savi's Warbler near Leighton Moss. Directions from Leighton Moss. This is a 'test case' for this new site (warden's words) and any problems, such as a photographer tape luring so they can sell their 'exclusive' pics, will lead to any future records from here being suppressed. Not seen/heard 1500-1900hrs.
The observatory was set up in 1980. It involves ringing,'vis mig' counts (including seabirds) and general monitoring in the Heysham Nature reserve/power stations/harbour area. The statutory moth trap is in place and also a daily log for butterflies, dragonflies etc. We share an office, kindly provided by EDF Energy, with the County Wildlife Trust. This is located next to the Nature Reserve car park. Do call in. Please leave sightings in the letterbox, ESPECIALLY 'fly-by' seabirds.