Heysham Obs
A significant movement of Kittiwake during the calm early morning ceased abruptly as soon as I texted a few people & the wind started to get up! None seen between 0910 and 0945hrs when both observers left. This involved flocks entering the Bay or descending from height, sometimes landing on the water before heading off high to the NNE. There was no evidence at all of birds turning round, leading to duplication.
North harbour wall 0715-0945
Kittiwake: 75+120+15+210+17+21+11+80 as described above = 549 (the fact the first three add up to the fourth is definitely a coincidence!)
Red-throated Diver: 12-13 (1 out, 2+7+1+2 in)
Red-breasted Merganser: 24 (largest group seen for many years) +3+2 in
Eider: 6
Mute Swan: 2 out close inshore
Passerine vis mig during the above seawatch
All north
Pied Wagtail - 3
Meadow Pipit - just 11
Grey Wagtail - 3
Crow - 2+3 north over the Bay - one of the two appeared to have dark grey body feathers indicative of a hybrid but this was not seen clearly enough to be certain.
Wooden jetty
The incoming tide displacement allowed a comprehensive count:
Purple Sandpiper - 2
Turnstone - 151
North harbour wall feeder
Twite 6 and Linnet 2 early morning
Elsewhere
6 Common Crossbill Thrushgill plantation mid-morning and 10+55 Kittiwake off JBP c1130-c1300hrs. Pale-bellied Brent Goose Sunny Slopes groyne area & single Ross's and Barnacle Geese on Aldcliffe plus the two Whoopers (viewable from both side of river).
