Tuesday 31 December 2013

Productive end of year but waders seriously displaced by dog exercisers

Heysham Obs
A 1CY drake Scaup was unexpected on Middleton model boat pond at least late afternoon with a tiny increase in Tufted Duck.  Possibly from Glasson marina?

A couple with a woolly alsation and a couple of black of white things (one with a black head and mainly white body) displaced 11,000 waders from the foreshore between Ocean Edge and Potts corner today with the dogs very wide-ranging.  Fortunately the tide was dropping rapidly and the birds were able to find suitable feeding off Middleton saltmarsh.  Are the notices up at Shorefields yet?

The male Black Redstart made an appearance on the rocks at Red Nab as I was watching the Isle of Man ferry in - target being the Bonxie which had been seen off Rossall on at least two of recent days.  No sign. Thanks for emailing, Roger, to say the Black Redstart was also at Red Nab at 1030.

Coastal stuff
Little Gull - 7 adult, two 1CY Heysham 2 outfall
Red-throated Diver - one flew 'out'
Guillemot - 7 in harbour, possibly more
Kittiwake - 22 behind IOM ferry, mainly 1CY - many peeled off and flew out before reaching harbour.  One adult by the harbour waterfall
Black Redstart - male on Red Nab rocks 1030, then again when next checked at 1215, then went back into Power Station near small reedbed
Red-breasted Merganser - 3 in harbour, two off Red Nab
Ringed Plover - 10 on the saturated grassland along OE foreshore
Med Gull - two adults north harbour wall by anglers
Twite - late afternoon visit to feeding station saw 15 (plus 3 Goldfinch) - no Linnets
Jack Snipe - 2
Snipe - 21
Little Egret - 2
Wigeon - 91

Middleton model boat pond
Scaup - 1CY drake (from Glasson?)
Tufted Duck - small increase to 12
Linnet - 70 on the rubble mound area - a really good winter flock (NHW birds?)
Teal - 100+
Pochard - female Tim Butler pond
Gadwall - 2 tim butler pond