Heysham Obs
Pollen-induced lethargy was the order of the day this morning with the alarm clock being the 'Red-spotted Bluethroat at Fleetwood' call.
The belated thrash of the Heysham recording area produced a new species of mammal for recent years in the form of 4 cattle agg. (not aged or sexed) - this does not say much for our observation as they are visible on Heysham Head from the NHW. Cattle used to graze the fields along Moneyclose Lane pre-power station. Combining the historical theme with the topical, Heysham Obs gained a belated new species when the Red-spotted Bluethroat believed to be at Sunderland in 1958 was indeed at Heysham near the 'old lake'(error identified during research for county avifauna)
Heysham Head
Female Yellow Wagtail in enclosed field next to the cattle field. Couldn't turn it into anything other than flavissima (& call). Flew north over Heysham head, calling, after 5 or so minutes of scrutiny, instigated by a 'what are you doing here' from a denizen of the private road.
Spotted Flycatcher - one in the garden next to the church
North harbour wall 0910-0920
NO sign of ANY Black Guillemot in a careful 10 minute search.
Guillemot - one offshore
Red-throated Diver - 2 together offshore, floating in (one sp, one winter/1st S)
Sandwich Tern - 3
North harbour wall 1115-1215ish
Arctic Skua - dark morph, then light morph in separately
Gannet - probably the same one blogging
Common Scoter - flocks of 35 + 110, the largest numbers so far this year
Fulmar - 2
Sandwich Tern - c10
just the one Black Guillemot seen, as was also the case c1515hrs
Outfalls/Red Nab late afternoon
1st summer Black-tailed Godwit
same two Grey Plover as two days ago
Arctic Tern on Stage 2 seaward end
Tufted Duck
An inexcusable omission was the presence for the first time of a pair of Tufted Duck on the pond by the Obs Tower from 'about a week ago to yesterday'. No sign this morning. A useful, by no means predictable, addition to the BTO challenge list
Mammals
See above for not very precise bovine observations - would have checked them carefully if hadnt been asked to leave/watching the Yellow Wag. Grey Seal off NHW.
Moth trap
5 Heart and Dart, White Ermine, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Clouded Bordered Brindle
Elsewhere
Wood Warbler Stone jetty bushes early morning. [Red-spotted Bluethroat Rossall to 1530 at least]
