A few decent seabirds including first Manx Shearwater of the year

Heysham Obs
Lengthy coverage of the sea today but starting not quite as early as perhaps we should, despite the low early morning tide. Having just read the recently set-up Walney site: http://walneybo.blogspot.com
.........the absence of an earlier seawatch cost us quite a few sightings. If and when the spring seawatching really gets going, comparison with the Walney site, any seawatching data on the Fylde site and the Solway skua data should be interesting. (For the latter see www.trektellen.nl , click on English in the top right corner and then Great Britain along the top and then choose Bowness on Solway from the list).

Seawatching
1000-1530
VELVET SCOTER - 2 males flying out at 1323hrs
Manx Shearwater - At least 6, possibly 8 seen - the first of the year
Gannet - adult
Common Scoter - flock of 6
Red-throated Diver - c15 sightings but possibly only 10 or so individuals - included a flock of 5 'in'
Skua spp - one flew into the Bay, gaining height, in the early morning. It was considered to be a light morph Pomarine but will have to remain as a 'spp'.

Inshore
1st S Med Gull and adult Little Gull. 5 juvenile Shag. 88 Turnstone on the wooden jetty at high tide (but no Purple Sandpiper)

Vis
Just one Swallow north during the coverage from the north harbour wall!

Grounded
Nothing obvious

Mammals
Distant Harbour Porpoise late morning

Elsewhere
The pair of Garganey still at Aldcliffe - back on the YW Darter pond this evening. Red Kite Langden area