Chiffchaff shows itself

A probable Chiffchaff was heard giving single calls on two occasions last week (per JR) and this morning saw it giving a series of calls and showing itself by Heysham NR office

Little Gull - ad with damaged wing on outfalls this am (MD) and a 1st W was heading south along the tideline off Knowlys Road late am (PC). By high water both of yesterday's adult and a 1st W were on No.2 outflow (MD)

The midday IOM ferry managed to miss the north roundhead as it struggled round the corner and behind it were a welcome adult Med Gull and eight adult Kittiwake, five of which continued into the Bay

A Great Skua flew into the Bay as seen from Morecambe Stone Jetty at 0805 (Juvenile Pomarine Skua off Ocean Edge on 23/2)

Stonechat 1 on Ocean Edge saltmarsh

These two Bar-Tailed Godwit had been feeding in the soft mud between the wooden jetty and No.1 outflow, till overtaken by the tide. Probably not visible on the blog resolution, but if you open this image in "a new tab". You'll see the bird on the left appearing to fire a water jet from its bill. Having a mouth wash, or just having "fun" - it certainly looks fun! (MD)

Little gulls in a sorry state

Little gull - There were three feeding on No.2 outflow at high water.
A first winter waife

This adult with damaged primaries

And this adult with some form of growth on right wing

All this watched by a grey seal

Which in turn was being followed by the large gulls

Still no sign of the Brent geese on north or south side.

Bit and bob

 Just in the singular for time being. I'm (MD) only aware of two records, hopefully more later.

There was no sign of any Brent geese on the skeer in the morning or later on Red Nab.

Little gull 1 1st winter on No.2 outflow 12:45

Jack snipe 1 flushed off saltmarsh by tide 13:15

Brent "family" return

 Thursday provisional, hopefully more later

Pale-bellied Brent goose - 09:15 the two Canadian ringed birds were feeding in the SE corner of sheer, again accompanied by 4 juvenile birds. They are certainly behaving like a family group (MD).

Another two were feeding further along the skeer edge.

There is no growing weed here, the birds seemed to be eating the broken weed on the incoming tide line.

All 8 got together in the corner when the areas they had been feeding on were covered by the tide.

Presumably after that they moved to the children's play area then on to Red Nab to feed. But no reports from these areas as yet.

15:30 8 (presumably same birds) flew back to north side past the south wall roundhead on the ebb tide

Little gull 1st winter bird still feeding on No.2 outflow
Kittiwake 1st winter also on No.2 outflow

Just a glimpse of the number of birds feeding on the flood tide on the beach south of skeer.

Mixed bag

Provisional update, hopefully more later.
The winds eased and the sun shone, occasionally.

No sign of Brent geese on the north or south shore.

Little gull 1 1st winter on No.2 outflow at least from 10:30 to 12:00.

The above pictures fron Kevin Eaves

Ocean Edge saltmarsh
Stonechat 1
Rock pipit 1

Middleton Nature Reserve
Mute 4 adult 5 juvenile
Coot 4 (2 x 2 together)
Gadwall 4 (2 paiir)
Tufted 2 (1 pair)
Mallard 4
Teal 7
Little grebe 2 feeding together.

The male Tufted looked particularly fine in the sunlight

Tuesday

No reports of any seabirds so far. Hopefully more later.

Ocean Edge saltmarsh 

Stonechat 1

Linnet 6

Reed Bunting 2

Common snipe 3

Jack snipe 1

Minimal coverage

Little gull - a brief check at noon found 1 adult plus 1 2cy by outflows.

Kittiwake 1 adult followed the IoM ferry in. Then flew back in to the bay.

Still hangers on

Little gull - 1 adult plus 1 2nd winter still on No.2 outflow

Kittiwake at least one along the south wall

Thanks for the pictures Kevin.

Ocean Edge saltmarsh high water.
Rock pipit 2
Stonechat 1
Reed Bunting 2
Linnet 3
Common snipe 1
Jack Snipe 1

Heysham skeer late afternoon.
No sign of the Brent
Eider c20

Just a sample of skeer birds. Eider, Knot, Turnstone and Oystercatcher (MD)

Great Skua

Strong southerlies throughout the day provided a number of sightings, topped by:
Great Skua - 10:50. one was seen flying south close to shore near the children's play area then on past Heysham Head (ref GM)

Little gull. 1 adult plus 1 2nd winter on No.2 outflow. 1 1st winter briefly along Ocean Edge foreshore

Kittiwake. 3 adult on outflows plus 36 behind the IoM ferry.

Ocean Edge saltmarsh
Rock pipit 1
Reed bunting 2
Stonechat 1

More wind and rain but at least a ferry connection

Early morning seawatching from the Stone Jetty saw 10 Little Gull out in 2 hours, obviously heading past here

 

Sea 1155-1235

Little Gull - 3 x ad out, then flight-line not visible 1215 on

Kittiwake - 11 ads behind IOM ferry

Little Gull - 1 x 2CY behind ferry

 

OE Saltmarsh
Stonechat - 1 male

Rock pipit - 1

Common snipe - 13

Middleton NR

Just looked at the two main ponds.

Mute - pair on each plus the 5 juv. The pair on the "no swimming" pond are favouring last years nest site and seemed to have purged the pond of dabbling ducks.
Gadwall just 2 remain (m&f)

Tufted 3 (2m)

Coot just 1 on main pond

Moorhen 9