Heysham Obs
Landbirds were at a premium today in a stiff westerly wind and the bushes were conspicuously devoid of Blackbird with no more than 10 around the office/visible tank farm. A few bits on the coast but little time to seawatch.
Vis from the office 0830-1015
Thanks for persevering John
Greenfinch - 36SW
Chaffinch - 4SW
Jay - 1SW
Starling - 184NW, 77N and 12SW - none of these sightings suggested dispersing roosting birds
Two Raven passed through as is becoming a virtually daily event
Seawatching
15 minutes from Ocean Edge foreshore near HT revealed a flock of 16 Kittiwake and 2 Razorbill flying 'out'
Ocean Edge/Red Nab
Highlighted by a Sanderling accompanying 11 Ringed plover and 5 Dunlin. 41 Linnet were also on the upper tideline (the only tideline!)
Wooden jetty/north harbour wall
You are hardly worthy of a caravan and some tarot cards by predicting a juvenile Shag on the wooden jetty during westerly winds and indeed one obliged today along with what I think is a record 58 Cormorant. Just one 2nd W Med Gull was noted today but no bread used.
Heliport
A flock of 17,500 Knot was estimated from all different angles & came to roughly the same number! This roost does considerably vary in numbers each day
Insects/mammals
Angle Shades in the moth trap and yet anoth in a good recent run of daytime fox records by the Obs Tower.
Elsewhere
Great White Egret seen from the Griesdale Hide, Leighton Moss this afternoon. Three Scaup (eclipse ad drake and two adult female) on Glasson basin/marina. "Stubble burning" at Cockersands revealed just 35 Skylark, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Stonechat.
