Tuesday 17 September 2013

Great evening session on the outfalls

Heysham Obs
A couple of Leach's Petrels found whilst looking down the wave troughs in the direction of Fleetwood from the Ocean Edge foreshore at high tide.  These must have cut across the bay in the marginal wind as it does not appear that any entered the bay to the north of Heysham.  Diod not arrive early enough to watch the incoming tide on the outfalls and I don't think there have been any Bonaparte's Gull sightings in some quite wet and unpleasant viewing conditions at this exposed site.  A couple of lost 'first time' observers ended up at the office cursing the site guide in Birdwatching magazine including 'why cant we go thoough the caravan site'

Various coastal places on and off, including seawatching am
Med Gull - at least 11 (7+ 1CY)
Little Gull - adult-type at long range on outfalls
Leach's Petrel - two mid/late morning heading out towards the Wyre estuary as viewed from Ocean Edge down the wave troughs.

Outfalls and area evening in perfect flat light due to cloud cover
Bonaparte's Gull - watched for the best part of an hour on and off 1800-1900 and spent most of its time on the mud between the two outfalls before feeding at the end of Heysham One, then between the two outfalls, then the end of Heysham two before landing on the tide edge just to the south of Heysham 2
Little Gull - ad-type
Sandwich Tern - one distantly out
Med Gull - at least 16, including a flock of 11 by wooden jetty

Pinkfeet
28 SE in morning, 29 in evening!