Great seawatch!

Three of us separately covered the sea from the north wall 0700-1000:  The skuas were interesting.  The first (four) Arctic dropped out of the sky down to about 30m above the sea then circled up and headed inland over my head - so nearly missed at the top of the scope, the next two were gaining height steadily but carried on up the Bay.  The Poms on the other hand were a water-hugging, apart from a bit of wheeling, purposefully-flying flock up the centre of the Bay - it did appear at first that one bird was quite a bit ahead of the others which then caught it up; certainly they were at least a scope's width behind for a few seconds.  The two Bonxie were inbound singletons, the first landing on the (inbound) sea early on

Whimbrel - 2+2 in
Pomarine Skua - flock of six light morph adults in at 0815hrs
Arctic Skua - 4+2 at 0740 and 0745 (see above).  All dark/intermediate-dark morph
Bonxie - in then on 0715 and in at unknown time between 0900-1000
Manx Shearwater - 220 seen flying in and others could have been missed; outbound birds ignored but similar impression of numbers
Raz/Gill - 60 mainly in and most after 0825hrs and before 0900hrs
Guillemot - 7 definites
Razorbill - 5 definites
Arctic Tern - 26+5+2 in
Fulmar - one out 0757hrs
Kittiwake - flock 6 in
Common Scoter - 27 seen
Red-throated Diver - 3 in
Sandwich Tern - c30 - more blogging/less movement than yesterday
Gannet - 2+2+2 out
 

Better variety

The wind came from SW to W. Overcast early on then sunshine and light showers.

Fortunately Pete (M) had an early appointment and managed an hour sea watching first. 07:10 - 08:10
Arctic Skua 1 dark morph in 07:15
Manx Shearwater 3 + 1 out
Gannet 2 out
Red-Throated Diver flock of 3 summer plumage in high
Kittiwake flocks of 25 and 27 in
Common Scoter 3 plus 2 out close, flock 5 distantly in
Sandwich Tern c30 mostly heading in.
Whimbrel 1 + 3 in, the flock of 3 very high

Evening watch 1800-1900
Arctic Skua - two light morph in
Manx Shearwater - min 10
Kittiwake - min 10
Fulmar - 1

A very brief check of beach found it deserted

Except for these two Dunlin and a Knot!

Middleton Nature Reserve- mid afternoon
Mute - three pairs nesting plus one remaining 2nd calendar year
Moorhen 6
Coot 3

The arrival of a new coot on the main pond wasn't welcomed!

Gadwall 4 (2 male plus pair)
Mallard 2 male
Little grebe - heard only
Swallow c20 north mainly single birds

Warblers - all 9 regular birds seen and or heard. Only the eastern half of the reserve was checked, this is an idea of distribution:
Cetti's Warbler - just the "no swimming" and fence pond males singing
Grasshopper warbler 3 heard - east side of central marsh, NW corner of central marsh near the old brick weighbridge building and middle of western marsh.
Reed warbler - just one male singing in reeds of western scrape (west side of road opposite fence pond)
Sedge warbler, Common Whitethroat and Willow warbler - pretty much everywhere
Lesser Whitethroat only one heard singing near gun club (brick building east of the main pond)
Blackcap one singing near yellow barrier near golf course
Chiffchaff, not so many singing as recently, but still three or four in hedgerow near golf club and Tim Butler pond.

Buzzard over to west

This Puss Moth from Kevin's trap (SD46A)

Rare for Heysham

Almost beaten by the weather

This morning started bright and sunny with a SE wind. By mid morning the wind had strengthened and was driving rain showers. Then at lunchtime a severe thunderstorm with heavy hail seemed to stop the wind for a while. After that we were back to light SE wind with sunny spells and showers.

Shoreline out from Half Moon Bay - mid morning
Mute Swan - 4 resting on mud in front of the north wall, later seen flying south.
Whimbrel one flock of 17 quite high to NW
Sanderling 1 in summer plumage feeding on water line - unfortunately it was pouring down and couldn't manage a decent picture.

This is conger rock, far and away the largest rock on the skeer, making it an important "landmark". On these neap tides, it is only just exposed, making it a handy resting place for these young cormorants.

On the way back, the sun came out briefly, allowing good views of four Rock Pipits around the middle slipway to Half Moon Bay field. A further check is required to determine the status of these (MD)

Mediterranean gull 1 2nd calendar year on mudflats by No.2 outflow on south wall

Sandwich Tern 2 in shipping channel

Eyes to the sea - but you have to look a long way!

The wind started off due E then moved around to SE then finally S. Overcast at first, rain in the afternoon followed by a sunny evening.
Observations restricted to four one hour observations by different observers. Early and mid morning, early afternoon and evening.
There were birds to be seen, but many were at the limits of observation.

Sandwich Tern 1 in
Arctic Tern - tight flock of 36 SE into the wind early afternoon, plus 1 and 1 in.
Gannet 24 in

Fortunately some of the Ganets came in closer, but still quite a distance. This picture from Kevin.

Arctic Skua - flock of 4 dark morph birds in
Common Scoter 5 out plus 2 flying between inner and outer channels
Shag 1 2nd calendar year bird flew east accross the bay then veered south towards the harbour entrance
Red-Throated diver 1 out
Whimbrel at least 22, some feeding some in.


Grey seal 1

Passive passage?

The breeze was back to north and east. But only a light breeze, accompanied by light drizzle.
There were signs of subtle and off passage birds.

Water's edge out from Half Moon Bay around low water 09:45
No sign of any tern passage
Whimbrel 2 feeding on skeer
Curlew several feeding individuals on skeer but also a small group of 8 that flew off north together
Great-crested grebe 12 feeding plus one that flew in
Red-breasted merganser 8
Eider 5
Little Egret - one, presumably the regular bird here, was feeding (see post 25/04), then three other birds came from the east (not bearing gifts) and settled around it. The regular bird stopped feeding and just stood there till the three flew off north. As soon as they left, it started looking for food again. It didn't seem to want share it's technique. (MD)

The regular bird is the middle one here - a Heysham standoff!

Middleton Nature Reserve - early afternoon ref Janet
There seemed to be more Lesser Whitethroat around than recently.
Buzzard 2 over, very high
Kestrel 1 high plus this one feeding.

One of the "no swimming" pond Moorhens busy at work.

South shore - high water 15:15
Rock Pipit one in nesting area near lighthouse plus pair on Red Nab
Canada goose - the two itinerant birds were taking advantage of the gut weed, which is becoming lush again in the warmer weather, and the lack of grazing by the Wigeon and Brent geese that have moved on

Just someting to consider, if you plan to walk along the water line at Heysham, apart from the obvious - don't walk into soft mud!

I could see the Sea Cat approaching Heysham Harbour.

I knew what would happen next, the Cat turns to enter the harbour.

But it's wake keeps coming. I had anticipated this and moved up the beach. But the power of the wake as it traveled across the bay was sufficient for it to break as it passed over the already submerged sand bars.

The wakes from the normal ferries act differently, much larger displacement but slower pace. Always be aware of boats both coming in and leaving. Although in reality, the main risk is of getting wet feet, not being swept away.

Ah well - half right

The breeze was again from the west with sunshine all day.

The only records so far are from mine (MD) and Janet's exercise walks mid morning at
Middleton Nature Reserve.
All the 9 regular warblers (see post 23/04) were seen and or heard. Although the two Grasshopper warblers heard were underwhelming, one very quiet and the other only singing in short bursts.
It's a shame because many of the other warblers were taking advantage of the calmer conditions to sing from the bush tops.
As per this Common Whitethroat

It's also nice to see and hear the Wrens more than matching the warblers.

Pictures from Janet - thanks

Today's post title refers to my prediction yesterday, of Four-spotted Chasers being located on Middleton today. No sign of them, but two teneral female Broad-bodied Chasers were located. So half right.

Hopefully more later

Top moth fills the gap

Overcast and feeling cooler today, despite the wind coming from the west.

No reports received so far today, other than my (MD) brief check of the skeer just before dark. The only sign of movement were two swallow north just above the water and two off passage Whimbrel. Plus the regulars:
Knot only c250
Great-Crested Grebr 10
Red-Breasted Merganser 6
Eider, c30 mainly male flew to skeer from the inner bay.

As with most familiar birds, their beauty is often overlooked.

These pictures from Janet of Reed Bunting and Sedge Warbler are from Middleton yesterday. No dragonflies reported as yet from Middleton, despite good numbers of Four-spotted chasers at nearby Heysham Moss.. Perhaps tomorrow.

Lunar Marbled Brown (SD46A)
This moth from Kevin's trap yesterday, may be the first record ever for the Heysham area.

Back to more subtle observations

Very light east breeze early on. Sunny till mid afternoon.

The seabird pasage is still on hold for the time being.

Low water (08:00)  tide line out from Half Moon Bay
Sandwich tern just 4 in
Whimbrel, none seen moving but a total of 9 located feeding
These five 2nd calendar year Mute Swans flew in from SE and settled on the north side of skeer.

Unlike a Sandwich Tern, a Little Egret's feeding method is dainty- although I doubt the prey appreciate it! (MD)

Middleton Nature Reserve - early evening
Just a quick visit to check out reports of  "none lockdown" activities reported on Facebook. Fortunately when I got there at 17:00 the place was deserted and clean and tidy. Let's hope it stay that way (clean and tidy, not deserted).
All the warblers except for Grasshopper heard
Common Snipe 1
Stock dove 1

This is an unusual viewing angle for a Grey Heron. I'm glad it didn't live up to its local nickname!

Passage stutters to a halt

 There was hardly any breeze early on, what there was came from north, with possibly a bit of east in it. Still warm and sunny.

There weare some flurries of movement to mid morning (most done by 08:15), but absolutely nothing moving through in the afternoon.

Arctlc Tern just 11 in through the far Kent channel
Sandwich Tern c60
Arctic Skua 1
Common Scoter 2 came from far channel and settled in near one, then disappeared
Kittiwake 1 adult looked lost over skeer then headed out
Whimbrel 3 in
Bar-Tailed Godwit 3 in

These Herring gull certainly seem to have a strict hierarchy (MD)

No reports as yet from inland sites.

A change to flight lines

The wind again started due north, but today only veered slightly to the east as the morning progressed. Cloud cover early on but sunny later.

Today's sea bird coverage managed 07:00 to 11:00 (several observers)
Arctic Tern   865, most before 09:00 with long gaps after and many birds flying inland over a broad front. Some were flying inland over Ocean Edge and one flock over Sunderland Point as seen from Red Nab area. Others fed mid channel then shot into the sky and disappeared!

Arctic Skua: 4 in plus at least two others early am off Morecambe,  One light morph came in over Red Nab. The other three dark morph.

Sandwich Tern: at least 192,

Some take a break, the one on the right has a white ring, unfortunately too distant to read.

Black Tern 1,
Little Gull 1 - 3rd Calendar Year,
Common Scoter 60
no Gannet or Red-throated divers today

One of the Dunlin near the wooden jetty - thanks Kevin

Nature Reserves
Grasshopper warblers have finally made it to Middleton two singing simultaneously plus almost certainly a third bird singing.
This makes the full set of  9 typically resident warbler here, Listed her in this year's arrival order.
Cetti's Warbler (over wintered)
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Willow Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Common Whitethroat (both Whitethroats arrived same day)
Lesser Whitethroat
Reed Warbler
Grasshopper Warbler

Large Red Damselfly - now present on Heysham and Middleton.

Thanks Janet

This picture from Janet reminded me of just how many Brimstone I have seen this year. I have probably seen as many this year than the total in all my years walking. Presumably that is partly due to a increasing local population plus the favourable winter and spring (at least it has been favourable for overwintering butterflies!) MD