More good birder coverage = more good birds. But it wasn't easy.

 A third day of reasonably strong southwesterlies, easing off by evening. Mainly overcast.

Five birders located at strategic points along the observatory area's seaward range (Shaun Cole, Pete Crooks, Pete Marsh, Bill Martin and Nick Godden). This following aggregate of sightings looks impressive, but the birds were thin on the sea and took some locating.

Leach's Storm-Petrel 3 - (08:00, 09:25 and 11:10)

Manx Shearwater 1

Gannet 1 adult

Razorbill 1

Guillemot 1

Sandwich Tern 1

Red-Throated Diver 1

Black-Throated Diver - At 12:54 a probable Bk throated diver flew out then landed by yellow buoys.

Mediterranean gull - Some seen by most observers, comprising at least 14 adult/2cy plus 8 juveniles

There were 10 waiting to feed as the beach next to wooden jetty Became exposed. 

The pinkish bit in the foreground is the sea wall.

Later the Numbers increased to 14 adult/2cy plus 1 juvenile. If my assessment of recent trends is to be believed, the next three to four days should see an increase in feeding activity here (MD)

The wind, again, fails to provide

 The strong SSW to WSW winds continued, but easing during the day. Some sunny spells and light showers.

South shore - mid morning (MD)

There were 75 gulls roosting on the mud out from Ocean Edge saltmarsh (this area of beach does not get covered by these neap tides). Most were Black-Headed gulls, but at least one was a Mediterranean gull, probably 2.

This is a small section of them. 

One Med is just left of centre, a probable second just right of centre.

A juvenile Med was seen out from the harbour mouth, the roosting gulls on Red Nab were not checked.

Meadow Pipit 3 grounded

Rock Pipit 2 + 1

Wheatear 1

Shelduck - these were the only birds seen to be moving around.

10 on the Beach

3 and 6 flying north

12 and 6 flying south

These are some of the 12 flying south. This is the same location as yesterday's struggling Pinkfoot. The Shelduck also flew low, but seemed to manage easily enough. The wind had eased slightly. 

Nick Godden viewing from the Stone jetty also saw 9 Shelduck flying south, plus:

Pintail 11 south.

The lull......throughout the storm!

 Strong winds starting SWS then to SW. Heavy showers later in the evening.

I have had no reports of any sightings. And my own forays were underwhelming (MD).

South shore

Wheatear 1 Red Nab

Meadow Pipit 1 Ocean Edge foreshore 

Rock pipit 2 on Red Nab plus 1 near waterfall 

Mediterranean gulls - 4 adult and a juvenile on the beach near wooden jetty. One 2nd calendar year behind the midday ferry.

Pink-Footed goose - a flock of 34 battled against the wind as they flew south low over the shipping lane.

The "formation" became that of necessity. They moved like a caterpillar track, the leading birds quickly tired, gained height then dropped back and down, to allow the next leaders to repeat the process. Progress was painfully slow. Hopefully they were only going as far as the Fylde roosts.

Quite a bit of morning movement

 Light southerly winds to begin with, then shifted more to west. Overcast all day.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Ringing session (JM. AD)

Weather conditions were ideal for mist netting, however, the solid cloud cover to the north and west was not great for bird passage. There was some movement after a quiet early period.

Ringing captures were reasonable with single figure numbers of five species of warbler: Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.

Other species ringed were:

Meadow Pipit - 4

Pied Wagtail - 1

Grey Wagtail - 8 (of 9 seen - a good capture ratio)

Robin - 2

Dunnock - 2

Wren - 1

Blue Tit - 5

Long tailed Tit - 2

Great Tit - 3

Moths caught were:

Square Spot Rustic - 1

Copper Underwing - 2

Flounced Rustic - 1 

Lesser Y U/W - 1 

Frosted Orange - 1

Evening (MD)

Just a quick check. 

Gadwall back down to 3

Little Grebe 2 - one still largely summer plumage, the other juvenile or winter plumage.

Visible migration report- focused on Ocean Edge shore (JR)

from 07:30-10:30 all south unless stated:

Meadow Pipit 48
Alba Wagtail 14
Linnet 8 (plus a gang of 13 roaming around)
House Martin 65
Swallow 95
Pink-footed Goose 224 
Sparrowhawk 1
Grounded: Wheatear 4

Mediterranean gull - there were just two resting on the beach next to the wooden jetty. One flew off and fed briefly on No.2 outflow.

Revealing itself to be a 2nd year bird in 2nd winter plumage 

Imperial way (Road to recycling centre) (PM)

This is the eastern boundary to the recording area

Whinchat 1 juvenile 

Buzzard 1 juvenile 

Curlew Sandpiper and a Gadwall influx

 The wind shifted more to north, averaging WNW. Some sunny periods.

South shore 

Late morning - rising tide (MD)

Mediterranean gulls - just three juveniles located one on No.2 outflow, one on beach near the wooden jetty (the only gull on the beach), plus one out from harbour mouth.

Wheatear 1

Rock Pipit 1

Linnet 12 on wall near No.1 outflow - not regular here.

Afternoon - towards high water (PM. JR)

Mediterranean gull at least 30 roosting  

Curlew Sandpiper - 1 juvenile with Dunlin out from Ocean Edge. It spent most of the time preening then went on its own to southern end of the flock.  

 

Middleton Nature Reserve - afternoon (MD)

Mute as yesterday 

Coot 4

Moorhen 3

Little Grebe 1

Gadwall at 15:00 I couldn't find any, on return at 16:15 there were 19 on the "no swimming" pond.

Mallard 1

Insects:

Dragonfly - Just three species seen 

Common Darter c20

Brown Hawker at least 7

Migrant Hawker 3 together near bottom car park

Butterfly

The predominant species were very fresh Red Admiral at least 20

Also

Speckled Wood

Small White

Small Tortoiseshell 

This large and faded Small Tortoiseshell, got me excited for a moment.

(Excitement isn't what it used to be!)

Better variety

 The gentle SW winds continue, mainly overcast with just a few light showers.

South shore around high water - 15:15 (MD)

There were over 300 gulls roosting on Red Nab c1.5 hours before high water. Too far out for me to separate, but I did manage to pick out two Mediterranean gulls. There were almost certainly more.

There were over 100 small waders on the mud out from the saltmarsh. They were scattered around in small groups and very mobile but at least:

Knot 9

Ringed Plover 56

Dunlin 45

Three of the Dunlin

Linnet c30 alternating between saltmarsh and foreshore 

Rock Pipits 3 on Red Nab

Wheatear 1 on foreshore

A very rufous male. Suggesting Greenland race.

Swallow 6 south. These two took a short break on Power Station perimeter light.

They seemed to be having a last minute "discussion"
albeit one sided

Then the male flew off south,
followed shortly afterwards, by the second bird.

Shelduck top the bill.......oh dear

The southwesterly winds continue, but with little venom. Long periods of heavy rain.

South shore early afternoon (MD)
Very little!
Mediterranean gull just one juvenile seen on No.1 outflow
Rock Pipit - 2 on saltmarsh plus 2 on Red Nab
Shelduck - there were at least 58 grazing on the mud out from the saltmarsh. First large gathering seen this autumn, some appeared to be juvenile, but it was difficult viewing through the driving rain.

A few of the Shelduck. Looking enigmatic through the rain.

Middleton Nature Reserve 
Just a brief check of the two main ponds was disappointing.
Mute - 2 adult with 3 cygnet were the only wildfowl on the main pond. 1 adult plus 1 cygnet on "no swimming" pond.
Also on "no swimming" pond
Coot 1
Gadwall 6

Swallow 1 south

The Pinkfoot have started moving over

Wind still from SW, but not strong. A few light showers and sunny spells.

Pink-Footed Goose - several reports of flocks flying south. Probably c400 in total over the recording area.

Heysham skeer - low water (09:15) (MD)
Great Crested Grebe 7
Eider 23
Little Egret 10
Lots of Oystercatcher and  Curlew
No Knot
Redshank c50
Turnstone c60

Turnstone are well camouflaged in this terrain.
They sometimes don't fly off till you almost stand on them.
This juvenile is typical.

The honeycomb worms are quickly taking over the north side of the inner skeer. Apart from making walking difficult (it's like walking over wet egg cartons, it doesn't harm the worms, they just need to repair the damaged tube), the main significance is to the wintering diving birds that rely on the mussels (e.g. Eider)

The dark finger towards the top is the only area of mussels in this section.

The honeycomb reef goes right up to the first channel (Noah's dyke).

It wasn't possible to cross the channel on this height tide, but the outer skeer, starting on the other side of the channel, appears to be mainly mussel beds.

Wooden jetty area 11:00 (MD)
Just a quick check of the Meds on the beach - none.

This Lesser Black-Backed gull had caught a Common Blenny. Blenny are happy to remain in the shallowest of pools, particularly if covered by wrack. The gull probably foraged for it at the bottom of wall next to the lighthouse.

They look dangerous, but are perfectly harmless.
The fish, not the gull!

A quick tap on the head to subdue it

Then down it goes

Kevin had another excellent and interesting capture in his overnight "moth" trap.
Hornet Hoverfly
They are a huge hoverfly, and according to the NBN atlas there don't appear to be any Lancashire records North of the Manchester/Liverpool area. 

A migrant which has been occurring more frequently in the UK in recent years, 

the largest hoverfly to be found in the British isles.

Osprey - almost got away again

The wind pretty much due west all day, blustery early on, but easing slightly by evening.

South shore (PM. MD)
Osprey 1 - 12:15 out from Red Nab. The last observatory sighting of an Osprey, the bird managed to avoid being photographed. Today Pete, just, managed a few record shots.

Not easy with a phone camera.

Mediterranean gull - Red Nab had been flushed by holidaymakers on the rising tide. There were 5 feeding on beach near the wooden jetty before the tide flushed them.

Nice reference shot of an adult Med
sandwiched between a juvenile and adult Black-headed gull.

Checked the beach again in the evening. 8 Meds feeding plus 9 resting on the rocks.

Kittiwake 1 juvenile in the harbour mouth 18:45

Before flying off to the west

Kevin managed some nice detail shots of a Common Darter sunning itself on Heysham Nature Reserve.

Migrant Hawker 4 around the entrance to Ocean Edge.

Ah well...back to the spreadsheet!

The southwesterly didn't reach the force originally forecast. Some sunshine.

South shore - evening low water (MD)
Rock pipit 2
Pied Wagtail c40
Mediterranean gulls - there was a scattering all along the shore

This one on mud out from Ocean Edge foreshore.
With a Little Egret and Lesser-black Backed gulls.

There were c250 small gulls on the beach on west side of No.2 outflow. The sun made it difficult to check them, but there were 2 adult and a juvenile Med with the closer gulls.

Unusually, they were all lifted by a Peregrine. They just did a circle around then landed again. It still wasn't possible to identify species against the light.

When I got to the beach next to the wooden jetty there were at least 20 Meds. My first thought was that they had just landed here to roost, from the earlier spooked birds. But these birds were looking for and catching sand mason worms. I have been plotting feeding Meds here against moon phase, based on my suspicion that the availability of the sand mason worms is linked to their breeding cycle. Up to now there has been some interesting correlations, but this is supposed to be a quiet period. Perhaps the weather is also an influence, so next year I'll include temperature, wind direction, and strength. I don't really need to know when the worms will be available, I just don't like being outthought by a bird!


Bizarrely, both outflows pointed directly at the setting sun this evening.

This is No.1 outflow. If this area is excavated in the distant future, they will assume that whatever "civilisation" created these features, aligned them with the setting sun at the Autumn Equinox. Obviously sun worshipers.