Saturday 20 February 2016

Wet webs

Heysham Obs
The one bit of the harbour not checked for the webs held the two star birds of the day - 2x 2cy shag.  Thanks Malcolm

Had to be done a day early this month.   Quite a few pluses: being able to do it by car, courtesy of various barrier cards and prom permits, an adult Little Gull was a minor surprise on Ocean Edge saltmarsh roost and there were 4K Knot on the dog-free heliport roost and another 2k at the Sunny Slopes Groyne.   The fields just north of Heysham Head are developing into a major roost due to a very effective barrier (plus a few horses) keeping promenade-exercised dogs off.  For example, 41 Ringed Plover there today.  This is how to do it, there are plenty of places for dog walkers to go - point out these alternatives and install a barrier and/or effective notices, including directions to the alternative(s), where you don't want them to go (deep and wide ditches are good!).     As usual, and used to be the case along the roadside at the heliport, the birds are habituating to people always the same distance away from them along the prom, the other side of a barrier

Ocean Edge
Little Gull - adult

Heliport
Knot - 4200
Ringed Plover - 6

Red Nab
Wigeon - 110

Harbour
Med Gull - adult
Kittiwake - 2 x 2CY
Shag - 2 x 2CY