Saturday 10 September 2011

Are we seeing the starters for a mega seawatching 'event'?

Heysham Obs
Looks on course for some stuff, especially Monday & Tuesday and leftovers on Wednesday in 'nicer' weather and maybe even after that, although we could do with some "balancing" vis mig/ringing weather.  Today was a good one for the ELOC and Bolton groups - its great when dates plucked out of air way in advance work out!  Please, however, use the path through the nature park and dont wander as a gang through Ocean Edge caravan park without at least asking at reception.  I've apologised on behalf of the group this morning. Thanks.

Inshore sightings
Sabine's Gull - adult from about 1030 until about 1530 on & off, including following the IOM ferry into the harbour-mouth at 1210ish.
Guillemot - 2CY harbour mouth at lunchtime
Little Egret - one OE saltmarsh creek (they have been scarce here since the cold weather last December)
Arctic Tern - max of 6 juv and 2 adult
Common Tern - max of 2 juvs and one adult
Little Gull - 2CY and adult
Sandwich Tern - one on Red Nab early on
Med Gull - 11 on the WeBS count from the ex-heliport to Ocean Edge saltmarsh: 1 x 2CY, 4 x adult-type, 6 x 1CY - there might have been more 1CY as they were typically mobile (they dont seem to like roosting!)
Golden Plover - one seen by outfalls (per Mike W)

Offshore
Zero!

Vis mig
1.5 hours in the morning by the office (not the best site for hirundines) produced the following heading south or south-east 0740-0910:
Swallow - 56
Chaffinch - 112
Meadow Pipit - 54
Linnet - 40
Goldfinch - 10
House Martin - 26
Grey Wagtail - 3 (plus 5 others along the seawall)
alba Wagtail - 12
Siskin - 2
Collared Dove - flock of four

Moth
Highlight in the trap was a scarce plume associated with fleabane: Oidaematophorus lithodactyla