Heysham Obs
By far the most significant sighting today was a single Nuthatch at Heysham Head, followed by the observer remembering several other sightings and "not realising it wasnt known about". Reaching this suitable habitat has certainly taken some time and it remains o be seen whether this represents a single bird seen regularly or the start of a breeding population. This was during the second phase of the SD46A winter TTV and more details in a day or so.
North harbour wall/wooden jetty
Time to put Shag speculation/negative reports to rest until next autumn? No sign of any for a week or so other than a single bird in the high tide roost last Sunday [not seen at low tide at the waterfall].
Red-throated Diver - 6 far offshore
Purple Sandpiper - single with two Turnstone on central section of wooden jetty
Med Gull - 2 adults
No "Twinnet" seen at high tide
South of harbour
Kingfisher - one Red Nab
Red-breasted Merganser - 4 off Red Nab
Knot - c10,000 Red Nab
Observers included Shaun Coyle and John Girdley
Middleton Industrial Est
All ponds completely frozen over. Some clear water in drainage dyke.
2 coot
2 moorhen
2 fieldfare
1 redwing
1 bullfinch
(MD)
Elsewhere
Pair of Mandarin still at Devil's Bridge and 8 Whooper Swan (with 11 Mute) just south of Melling on the floodplain. No sign of the European Whitefronts amongst the Lune Estuary Greylags. Brambling Hornby garden.
