Tuesday 17 April 2012

Seawatching conditions improve as the squalls kick in

Heysham Obs
Please note that I have enabled comments for the spring seawatching season.  Please let us know what you have seen, either via the LDBWS site or by posting a comment on here.  Thanks very much.

Not a lot of time today (still havn't) but the seawatchers had fun over the lunchtime in 'improving' conditions with some spicy squalls

North wall 0725-0755 in the rain & intermediate 'half way across the bay' visibility
Sandwich Tern - 31 out
Razorbill - 4 in together
Gannet - 2 out

North wall & Ocean Edge 0910-0930 as weather cleared & full cross-bay visibility
Lots of large gulls on Heysham 2 outfall (200+, including 2CY Common) - this usually happens this time of year and it has provided a majority of the white-winged gull records over the years
Sandwich Tern - a further 5 out
Red-throated Diver - one in

Seawatching for about 3 hours over lunchtime (Tom and Jean)
Arctic Skua - 1 in about 1200hrs +2 'in' about 1235 - all appeared dark morph
Little Gull - adult out
Red-throated Diver - 4 in
Fulmar - one out (first of year?)
Gannet - 20
Auk spp - 1 out
Sandwich Tern - just 2 out
Kittiwake - 73, biggest flock 45