Heysham Obs
A few seabirds this morning but observations started rather later than they perhaps should have done and the wind went too far to the NW by about 1145hrs, but a vigil 1400-1600 still produced some dribs and drabs which must surely have been lingering in the bay from the early-mid morning westerly
North harbour wall 1020-at least 1300 but intermittent (nothing in last hour), then 1400-1600
Storm Petrel - 2 birds at about 1025 - one distant, one at 'yellow buoy' range, flying steadily out. One out between 1400 and 1600hrs - near the 'yellow buoys'
Arctic Skua - dark morph rather distantly seen chasing gulls before (re) landing on the sea on two occasions. Rare here in July
Fulmar - 3 out
Manx Shearwater - 3 out (all after 1400hrs)
Golden Plover - one 'in' at 1416hrs - rare here
Gannet - two out
Sandwich Tern - 8 out
Black Guillemot - sat on sea below wooden jetty at least 1045hrs, later sat on jetty itself
Med. Gull - Ad & 2nd S patrolling north wall
Stage 2 outfall/Red Nab (combined observations from 3 observers)
Med. Gull - 2nd S and Ad roosting on Red Nab (not known whether these were subsequent NHW birds)
Whimbrel - one
Little Gull - 2 x 1st summer and a second summer which was new in
Kittiwake - 3 adult and 2 1st summer
Elsewhere
Ad Med Gull Morecambe HS playing field HT (sat down so not known whether ringed). 32 Sandwich Tern Teal Bay area, but predictably no 'proper' seabirds in the inner bay as the wind veered (other than single Common Scoter & Kittiwake from a lengthy JBP vigil). Juvenile Marsh Harrier mistnetted (and ringed) at Leighton Moss this morning during the Bearded Tit research programme!!!
