Heysham Obs
A surprising amount of stuff off Ocean Edge/Red Nab on the dropping tide, now we have finished the survey which was becoming a bit of a 'jolly' during the rather birdless cold weather either side of New Year. Didnt have much time to check, due to only being at Heysham because a work folder had been left in the office! Thanks to Sean for records from the north side.
Off Ocean Edge/Red Nab
Med Gull - THREE adults on the mudflats and a further Ad or 2nd W following a ferry for a short period before peeling off and heading back out of the bay about 1/2 mile from port (no, it wasnt a Kittiwake!)
Black-tailed Godwit - 26 on the mudflats - possibly the first Feb record, but a continuation of last autumn's scenario
Sanderling - one with c96 Dunlin - great winter record!
Lapwing - 264 - very high count for here
Shelduck - 191
Ringed Plover - 27, including the Snettisham colour-ringed bird
Wigeon - 88 (the main motivation for the visit)
North wall
Meadow Pipit - one on beach at Half-moon bay - good winter record
Twite - c25
Med Gull - it seems that one adult remained on 'this side', making FIVE for the day - a good count for this time of year. None of these were the bird on Middleton IE model boat pond two days ago - that one was very well advanced into summer head plumage
Green Woodpecker calling from the scrub behind HM Bay car park
Elsewhere
Med Gull adults Greyhound bridge Lancaster and by the posh hotels just south of the Town hall along Morecambe seafront. Smew redhead still Freeman's Pools but no sign of American Wigeon at Conder Est in reduced numbers of Wigeon since 8/2,
