Tuesday 29 January 2013

Full house of the more regular late winter specialities

Heysham Obs
Apart from perhaps Shag, although these are not traditionally regular in late winter unless remaining from an earlier influx

North wall early morning and lunchtime
Kittiwake - ad following IOM ferry as far in as red buoy, but then left to follow outgoing ferry
Med Gull - 2 adults
Rock Pipit - one along base of seawall at lunchtime
Twite - max 72 at one time, including green/white, red/white Machrihanish bird.  There were 5 unringed out of 67, then 4 birds arrived from the south with a Meadow Pipit, circled round for about 5 mins before eventually landing on the fence with the flock.  Two of these definitely unringed and the behaviour also suggested new arrivals 
Linnet - 1
Goldfinch - 2
Song Thrush - 1
Purple Sandpiper - 1 along base of seawall
Guillemot - one harbour entrance, one briefly further out - first for a bit
Red-throated Diver - 2-4 around offshore
Meadow Pipit - one flew along harbour wall, then inland (with 4 Twite - see above)

Stage 2 outfall
Little Gull - no sign of yesterdays adult but 2CY present