Empty afternoon skies

Knot on the Near Naze next to the heliport. Thanks Rosie

Heysham Obs

Just time for about 20 mins birding in latish afternoon. This was the first truly calm weather for a bit and my exit from the office was accompanied by an eerie silence and empty skies. No trail of large noisy gulls heading for the coast/across to Walney. This is, of course, the knock-on from the closure of Lancaster Tip.

Heysham PS Stage 2 outfall

2 Adult and one 1st W Little Gull - good to see them hanging in in the calm weather.

Heysham Harbour

10 Shag in the waterfall area, 5 on the seawall by the sandplant. About 7 Kittiwake & 1st W Med Gull over by the NHW. Guillemot in the harbour mouth

Elsewhere

Highlighted by a 1st W Purple Sandpiper which was on the rocks at the end of the SJ at low tide but not, as far as could be seen, on the HT roost on 'Bubbles groyne' at lunchtime. Also surely a different Guillemot to Heysham offshore at lunchtime. The male Hen Harrier was seen again at Leighton Moss Lower Hide area. Pine Lake provided minor interest in the form of a Red-breasted Merganser and 13 or so Goosander. 4 Bewick's Swan on Jeremy Lane and a further 3 on Glasson saltmarsh