Heysham Obs
Nothing offshore other than a very distant bird heading steadily into the bay which fitted the bill for a dark morph Arctic Skua (0715hrs). All the waterbirds (mainly Curlew, Oystercatcher and Shelduck) along the shore south of Ocean Edge were flushed by the "regular pony and trap who does no harm" (per owner of access) going both ways right along the tideline. As has been gently explained (numerous formal or informal meetings), this is all very well at low tide or near low tide but completely out of order at high tide - there is supposed to be a law called reckless disturbance but I have yet to see or hear about it being used with respect to coastal issues. Potts Corner shore access remains a running sore of unnecessary disturbance.
Coastal area
Purple Sandpiper - at least two with the large Turnstone flock
Turnstone - 321, possibly more towards Red Nab
Med Gull - 1 2CY with a 'mask' (not a trace of head s.p.) seemed to arrive from high in the sky with three Common Gull and then fed on Heysham 2 outfall
Common Gull - 143
Black-headed Gull - 220
Knot - one in summer plumage with Turnstone, then flew south on its own
Whimbrel - 2 by Heysham 2 outfall
No Wheatears either side of the harbour area (pre-rain check)
Dunlin - 5
Sandwich Tern - 16 on posts/buoys pre-tide, two further out fishing
Arctic tern - 2 out
Grounded migrants
Pied Flycatcher - probable 'grey male' - (not yesterdays 'brown primaried' female) western marsh bushes Middleton
Lesser Whitethroat - one ringed
Wheatear - 11 Ocean Edge - many seemed to materialise when the rain started
Meadow Pipit - 2 with the above
White Wagtail - 1 with Wheatears ocean edge
Middleton NR
Gadwall - 5
7 house martin & 11 swallow over model boat pond after rain started
