Heysham Obs
The most demanding task this morning was counting Oystercatchers as they gradually departed the Red Nab high tide roost. Apparently there is a reality TV programme doing the same thing. Must get in touch with my agent. The dribs and drabs count of departees actually added up to the original roost estimate. Yippee, although it was just over 500, not a challenging several k!
Red Nab/Ocean Edge
Three hour count was highlighted by birds NOT in the study area, but just to the south:
Bar-tailed Godwit - 211 feeding off Ocean Edge just to the south of the saltmarsh channel
Black-tailed Godwit - 2
Med Gull - 'new'? adult with very well-defined mask and black-banded bill on the sand just south of Ocean Edge. Legs not seen & sneaked off whilst counting elsewhere
Knot - 2,700 along the Middleton tideline
Dunlin - 870 along the Middleton tideline
Grey Plover - 18 scattered around
Wigeon - 151 Red Nab
North wall (thanks Mark)
Twite - 14 at feeder
Med Gull - one adult
Song Thrush - still in SD36V by the sandworks
Elsewhere
Scaup - male and two females between Scalestones Point and 'Teal' Bay at 0915
