Will it come back next winter?

Update:  Its back already - just (1115hrs) flown over Heysham NR (for the first known time) heading towards Heysham Head!  Wonder where its been but it cannot have been impressed with the cliff-less Fylde coast or even further south in the almost three hour absence

and away again - at 1200 circled up really high and drifted out over the Bay and was last seen as a high dot heading towards Barrow, well over the Cumbrian border...............but it was reported again 'Heysham Head, early afternoon'!

As far as can be ascertained, the Chough was last seen as a distant dot at 0835hrs heading south, having first been picked up, as viewed from Heysham Head, flying above the heliport seawall area .  What may have been a trial run at least as far as the wooden jetty was timed by another independent observer as 0815.   The last four days have been noticeable for more contact calling, aerial antics and forays to more distant parts of its visual territory like the wooden jetty.

Bittern - One flew across the road from Heysham golf course to the recycling centre wetlands at 0750hrs.  This was searched for, but the terrain is pretty dodgy with grassed over old dykes.  No Bittern located, but it could have easily have been in the reed mace area
Velvet Scoter - showing as well as it can on the dropping tide - easier when its not in the middle of the Eiders. 

Iceland Gull - 3rd W by waterfall early am at least

Vis mig from |Heysham Head 0755-0955
Chough - one south - last seen 0835
alba Wagtail - 25 N
Meadow Pipit -96 N
Skylark - 7 N
Linnet - 1N
Goldfinch 6N
Carrion Crow - 3 in-off and high to east
Siskin - at least three N
Goose spp - 5 distantly east
Greenfinch - 6 S

Recycling centre wetland just to west of road
Teal - 35+
Little Egret - 1
Jack Snipe -2-3
Common Snipe c6
Great-spotted Woodpecker - one drumming in adjoining woodland near stables

Middleton NR
Little Grebe - whinnying
NO Cetti's - this is really unfortunate and not looking good

More later hopefully

Meadow Pipits on the move

No proper first light vis this am, but 21 grounded Meadow Pipit on Middleton NR set off northwards as soon as the early morning rain cleared.  Three flew north during brief visit to office

Other sightings:
Little Grebe - whinnying individual on fence or no swimming pond (heard distantly)
Water Rail - 2+ western marsh scrape
Stonechat - passage male knowlys horse paddock
Iceland Gull - 3rd W moulting neck/throat freckling to 3rd S sw corner harbour
Chough - 2nd field above cafe - more subdued today in few minutes I was within its range
Velvet Scoter - I couldn't see it amongst the Eider but a lot of birds feeding i.e. diving and I wasn't at the best spot i.e. by chapel, but none of several birders I could see wandering about reported anything on info services
alba wagtail - 5 north

Green Sandpiper - on the pond next to industrial site just beyond recycling centre roundabout - just outside area but visible from

Small Tortoiseshell - first of year

Further Chough wanderings

Reached SD35 and 36 today - flying from south of the harbour about 1130 whence returned to the cliffs and fields are but was very mobile and vocal

Velvet Scoter - drake offshore with Eider but tricky to see
Goldeneye - drake along water edge north of Knowlys
Med Gull - ad Knowlys road roost
Iceland Gull - 3W sw corner harbour

A sad day

Allan Mackenzie, a stalwart of Heysham ringing, indeed held it all together for the most part, when he lived here in the 1980s is seriously ill in Furness General Hospital.  If you knew Allan, please get in touch soon if you want to visit

Velvet Scoter, Iceland Gull and Chough in the usual places, but the latter was also doing a lot of flying back and forth, including along the north harbour wall, calling a lot this morning - getting restless

Little Grebe - one Tim Butler pond
Mute Swan - 4 pairs
Gadwall - 18
Coot - now two
Teal - 5
No Pochard
Tufted D - 3
Skylark - 3 N

Buff-tailed Bumble Bee Middleton

Still here

The Eider flock was scrutinised from chapel on Heysham Head 4.5 hours before high tide to see if the Velvet Scoter had flown off with yesterday’s Common Scoter flock, but no it was still with its winter mates, the Eiders.

There was some vis overhead:
Skylark 8 N
Pied Wagtail 3
Siskin (heard not seen) probably about 5

And over the sea:
Whooper Swan 3 NE

The drake Goldeneye was closer inshore near the skeer where at least 3000 Oystercatchers we’re feeding.

The Chough was in the second field opposite Half Moon Bay cafe.

More news later.
JR

Ocean Edge and south wall (Malcolm)
Skylark - 3 NE
Stonechat - the usual female now on its own again on OE saltmarsh
Iceland Gull - 3CY outfall pre-tide

Ringing recovery - thanks to Mike Jackson
Herring Gull
Y:F47           2CY   30/6/17     Harewood Whin landfill, nr York  53 96N  1 17W 
Seen/photo              5/3/18       Middleton NR Lancs      110km WNW

Middleton NR (Janet and Southport birders).  Pics from Janet - thanks
Stonechat - migrant female

Iceland Gull - on model boat pond mid pm
Gadwall - fighting having lived amicably together all winter!

Teal - 8

Migrant scoter flock

Nothing today to show much happening with Middleton disappointing for Malcolm.  NNEW Shag or Iceland Gull - not searched for by locals today

Middleton NR
Pochard - 1
Gadwall - 18
Teal -  less than 10
<10 p="">Water Rail - 1
unringed Grey Wagtail
No Cetti's - (PM checked as well)

Half moon bay area
Chough in second field

Heliport mown today

Stonechat - male in first field 1/2 moon Bay

Knowlys Rd VP at start of tide c1000
Velvet Scoter - drake slightly apart from and further out than Eider - one wingflap (but did NOT float in with Eider past SJ)
Common Scoter - tightly packed flock of 28 seemed to be mostly males
Eider - 620
RB Merganser - 5
Great-crested Grebe - 3 

One loaf and five fishes?

The 3rd W Iceland Gull was at the waterfall this morning eating fish and other maritime bits and bobs, but a whole loaf of mothers pride type stuff finally tempted it within range for Janet's pics at the Middleton model boat pond this afternoon where it had been bathing and resting on the last remaining ice.  Thanks Janet.

Stonechat - male and female in the corner of OE saltmarsh
Rock Pipit - singles Red Nab and the end of the north wall
Skylark - 5 SE during the morning
Wigeon - 311 (Red Nab flock)
Turnstone - 74 wooden jetty, c10 heliport
Jack Snipe - one heliport flew down on to rocks
Snipe - minimum of 5 heliport
Chough - second field when looked for on and off
Shag - juvenile on wooden jetty at HT

No winter thrushes reported today and tide wrong for Eider/Velvet searches

Two ringed Herring Gull read on the ice at Middleton.  This 3CY is probably from York but haven't had it confirmed yet - note the Iceland Gull next to it.  Thanks Janet.

Seaduck review

With his intimate knowledge of the shore off Heysham, Malcolm went out on to the outer skeers, next to the Kent channel (don't think he quite needed a Cumbrian passport!) during a daytime low spring tide opportunity a few days ago. 

 1. This is a mile and a half out looking back from the southernmost end of the furthest channel (the gunnel) that you can reach from shore. It's looking back towards your vantage point on Knowlys road. You'll notice that the old waste pipe marker is in between, making this your line of sight out for Eider.

2. This is the view in the opposite direction, looking straight into the gunnel, where this group of Eider were feeding. I didn't see the Velvet Scoter, but there were three Scaup.  All the birds were feeding frantically just before the run stopped.  There were five groups of Eider about the size of those on the pic, all feeding where the water was running through sub channels. Plus loads of smaller groups. No divers and just one Merganser.

Some further thoughts:

 

Pic 1. This is similar picture to the one I sent earlier, looking back to Knowlys Road, but not zoomed as much. In this one you can see in the foreground what the sea bed typically looks like at this range. I.E. No living mussels, just empty shells and small clumps of honeycomb worm.

Pic 2. This shows the small islands of live mussels in the main channel (gunnel). The Oystercatchers were going into the water to access these before they were exposed, and avoid being harried by gulls. Obviously prime feeding area for mussels.

Pic 3. This is similar, but if you zoom in on the upper middle Oystercatcher flying away, you can see the size of the mussel they were "catching". They all flew away from gulls to eat elsewhere.

Pic 4. This is just another picture of where the Eider were feeding, but it makes sense now. They are feeding on smallish mussels that the force of the water through the channel is dislodging from the mussel island beds. That's why they congregate where the flow is strongest just to the south of the island. Every island in the flow had a group like this.
This will be the time of "easy feeding". I.E. Plenty of available food, you just have to be the first there. Hence the frantic feeding. Dislodged mussels not eaten will get washed further south and spread over a large area. Presumably this is the food source earlier in the ebbing tide or early in the flood tide.

Same stuff today:
Stonechat - 3 OE saltmarsh, one 1/2 moon bay
Chough - second field above 1/2 moon bay
Iceland Gull - on waterfall early morning pre-tide
Velvet Scoter - distant black blob floating in off the Stone jetty at 1009hrs
Mute Swan - just 4 Middleton
Gadwall - 19
Coot - 1
more Middleton stuff to add - left notes at Heysham NR!

Iceland visits the model boat pond

Good coverage today by Malcolm and Justine.

Iceland Gull - waterfall area late am then found on the model boat pond mid-pm - presumably because the freshwater bathing at red nab underwater?

ice on ice model boat pond

Chough - second field most of the day
Velvet Scoter - not seen : no late afternoon tidal check
Stonechat - 4-5 Ocean Edge/Pontins foreshore, female HM Bay
Golden Plover - 5 along beach by old Pontins site and at least two behind medical centre
House Sparrow - one collecting nesting material near Pontins!!
Water Rail - one in dyke near footpath between ocean edge and pontins
Rock Pipit - HM Bay
RB Merganser - 2 males and one female off Heysham head close inshore at HT
Fieldfare - two urban Heysham
Redwing - about 10 reported
Song Thrush - two OE saltmarsh, one HM Bay

Stonechat influx

Ocean Edge foreshore was quite a haven for waifs and strays today and held at least five Stonechat and other odds and ends

Chough - second field north of half moon bay am at least

Iceland Gull - 3rd W on new waterfall am at least
Velvet Scoter - ad drake seen from Knowlys road lower section at 1510ish in flight with Eider.  Note the specific time - from this site need to be there with scope about 1530 onwards tomorrow
Med Gull - ad Knowlys road roost but no sign (as would be usual; invariably leaves late Feb) of the Czech bird
Ringed Plover - 20+ Knowlys road field at HT

Ocean Edge saltmarsh and area

Thanks for these Janet - Malcolm put a lot of legwork in today and the fare along the coast south of here was zilch despite some nice flushes - it was all concentrated on the saltmarsh or caravan site edge

Stonechat - 5 (2 males)
Meadow Pipit - 2
Redwing - 15-20 (including HNR)
Linnet - 2
Rock Pipit - 1
Woodcock - one HNR
Jack Snipe - 4 OE saltmarsh
Snipe - out of usual area birds in sheep field and on HNR (2)