Sunday 28 December 2008

Blinding low sun favours the morning observer

Heysham Obs
The mid-stages of the incoming tide were a whole lot more productive than the afternoon visit but a common denominator was the absence of any small finches.

North harbour wall mid-morning and mid-afternoon
Med Gull - 2 adults on the railings on both visits (one Czech-ringed)
Shag - one on the wooden jetty in the morning (& 16 Cormorant) but no sign around the waterfall area on the dropping tide (as was also the case yesterday)
Guillemot - a float-in singleton at 1040hrs
Red-throated Diver - at least 4 offshore in the morning
Song Thrush - unusually, 2 in the sandworks mid-morning [**need to add to atlas roving records]

Observers: Jeff Butcher, Pete Marsh

Elsewhere
At last, a quality new arrival in the form of 4 European White-fronted Geese joining the Greylags at the north end of Aldcliffe Marsh (visible from the Golden Ball side as well as the Aldcliffe side). Med Gull off Glasson, 8 Whooper Swans just south of Melling, 1st W female Scaup Freeman's Pool