Heysham Obs
Anyone able to cover Friday (tomorrow), please, esp sea on early incoming tide? Thanks
A smattering of coverage again today, including Pete Cook's one hour vigil looking over the sea. Certainly at least a trickle of Meadow Pipit and alba wagtails over but little time to cover vis systematically
North wall
Twite - more passing through and using the seed with at least 13 individuals, at least 6 of these unringed and two bearing white rings from this winter
Linnet - a good count of 29 on the seed early morning with the majority seeming to be unringed
Meadow Pipit - 15 north in 20 minutes & 6 grounded
alba Wagtail - 7 north in 20 minutes and 6 grounded
Eider - an increase to c230 offshore at low tide but nothing could be found with them other than low single figures of RBMerg and GCGrebe
Little Gull - ad in, 2CY out
Guillemot - one floating in on tide
Office area
Siskin - 5 north
Goldcrest - at least 3
Mute Swan - one 'stuck' on the nature park pond but not stressed & plenty of food - it will be moved in the next few days
Impressions of the same low-level alba/Meadow Pipit passage based on short forays outside the office
Ocean Edge/Red Nab
Wheatear - one male reported but again missed it!
Wigeon - just 3
Middleton NR
Scaup - 2CY male
Gadwall - 3 males, 2 females
Tufted Duck - at least 13
Teal - pair
Moths
A Shoulder Stripe in the trap
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.