Heysham Obs
Easterly then SE plus rain to begin with - switch to SW near gale midday, then clearing up - stuff probably missed pre-0725. Offshore visibility poor early morning with 'Gannet range' not discernable
Sea 0725-0900 then short spells at lunchtime as wind went SW plus Ocean Edge check
Swallow - 283 NE (220 of these 0730-0800)
House Martin - 1 NE
Sand Martin - 5 NE
Swift - 1 NE (IOY)
Arctic Tern - 30+2+5 NE
Sandwich Tern - 10
Whimbrel - 1
Wheatear - 4 north wall, 14 Ocean Edge
White Wagtail - 3 Ocean Edge (with c8 Pied of unknown status)
Meadow Pipit - 2 very late migrants NE
Kittiwake - 10 on sea
Med Gull - same 2CY outfalls
Common Gull - 182 outfalls
Black-headed Gull - much reduced - 28 outfalls
Knot - c1750 flew south along the tideline towards the Lune Estuary at 0919hrs as seen from OE
Dunlin - c250 out
Eider - c120 on sea
Bar-tailed Godwit - 10 in
one probable dark morph arctic skua in but unfortunately optics steamed up!
Turnstone not counted today
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.