Sunday 19 February 2012

Coastal two and four-legged counts!

Heysham Obs
If any dog-walkers or power walkers/strollers etc are reading this, please stay off the old heliport seawall at or near high tide.  A dog walker census was undertaken for Half Moon Bay and the grassy areas above - anyone interested in the results?  The bottom line is that there are plenty of dog-exercising areas in and around Heysham without the need to disturb large numbers of roosting waders.

Inshore areas
Med Gull - 2CY briefly to bread near the zoo cafe - wonder where this bird is spending most of its time? One adult patrolling th north wall
Knot - a return to some use of the heliport seawall, albeit flushed by the first dog walker at 0900hrs, whence 1,300 roosted on the Near Naze over the tide and 2,700 flew south to join another 2,500 off Ocean Edge
Bar-tailed Godwit - very quick count of OE saltmarsh saw 2,900 and one roosted over the tide with Knot on the Near Naze
Dunlin - as above revealed about 3,700
Shag - four 2CY left, including the ringed bird which was sorted out as one of two from Puffin Island - just couldnt be certain whether the last number was a 1 or 7
Kittiwake - 5 2CY in harbour
Guillemot - one near the harbour mouth
Purple Sandpiper - at least one roosting on the sunny south side of the wooden jetty
Twite - at least 13, including nine examoned of which two were unringed and one was from Machrihanish 2011

Moth
Agonopterix heracliana in its plainest form graced the trap (thanks John)