Sunday 25 August 2013

Gulls behave themselves today

Heysham Obs
No visiting birders, Bonaparte's Gull easy to find!  This has been a regular 'formula' this last month, although John and Sandra were able to join me from Ocean Edge and John managed some video of bathing on Red Nab

Red Nab/outfalls area as scanned from Ocean Edge foreshore 1215-1245
Bonaparte's Gull - on the sea between the outfalls and Red Nab then 'brought' inshore by the tide, before flying on to the small stream crossing Red Nab.  It then proceeded to chase and consume flies and alternated this with bathing but rarely keeping still - it was running around like a small Calidris!  A couple of wing stretches appeared to indicate either P9 in moult stage 4 and P10 in stage 3 or P8 in stage 4, P9 in stage 3 and P10 in stage one.  Predictably looks rather round-winged in flight and impressions at rest two days ago did suggest it still had a single old primary and the timing would appear to indicate that P10 is indeed in moult stage one.
Little Gull - 3CY on the sea near the Bonaparte's Gull
Med Gull - at least 11 but again only two juvs seen

Office area
Garden Warbler ringed but little else migrant-wise in evidence apart from:
Wheatear - 3 on Red Nab

Insects
Painted Lady on office buddleia for third day