Heysham Obs
Interesting posting read yesterday gave a long list of birds enjoyed by the observer followed by "despite not being in the hide". Along with several other early morning migration oddballs, I wouldn't touch a hide at this time of year, unless it was as a rest from birding. There is so much happening overhead and within earshot as well as what might be visible in front of you. However, the converse can be true, you can "sniff the air" at a ridiculous time of the morning, feel the wind is too far from the north, note the sky is clear and listen to the resident dawn chorus with no 'extra noises'. In other words, its "dead" as happened at 0515 this morning! Fortunately at this time of year, there are several options, notably staring at the sea, and this morning eventually livened up a bit and came up with a reasonable list
Sea 0610-0850
Swallow - 147
Linnet - 8
Goldfinch - just three!
House Martin - 4
Sand Martin - 1
Whimbrel - 15 (including flock of 11)
Sandwich Tern - c50
Arctic Tern - 95, most of them in one flock of 68
Arctic Skua - LM in 0615, DM in 0755
Skua spp - probable very distant LM Pom at 0720
Kittiwake - 25
Cormorant - two high to the NE overland
Gannet - 6
Auk spp - 2
White Wagtail - 2
Lesser Redpoll - 1
Swift - 2
Common Scoter - 8 out
Ocean Edge
Wheatear - 12
White Wagtail - 2
Little Gull - 2CY
Kittiwake - ad
Common Gull - 71
Black-headed Gull - 63
Med Gull - usual 2CY
Grey Plover - 22
Bar-tailed Godwit - 140
Dunlin - 120
Office area
Swallow - 25 NE
Sand Martin - 1 NE
Lesser Redpoll - 4 NE - all before nets set at 0515hrs!!
Willow Warbler - about 15 migrants seen (9 ringed)
Goldfinch - 21 NE
Grey Heron - 3 north at dawn
Moth
Brown Silver Line started its year
Grey Seal
2 off north wall
