Monday 16 November 2015

Nice selection over a very long time!

Heysham Obs
A little frustrating today with a male Snow Bunting heading south towards the area not located within and the Grey Phalarope's not quite clinched as the 'on the sea' views were just glimpses before being lost in the rather distant heavy seas.  One the plus side, the 'what's that' as viewed out of window by Reuben was also then seen by Steve and myself and proved to be the first 'from the office' skua spp in the form of a westbound Bonxie with a few trailing gulls warily keeping their distance,  Thanks to Bill, Andrew, Jean and Malcolm for coverage 
 
Sea on and off 1000 onwards to just before dusk
Whooper Swan - 9+7+2 south in the afternoon
Pintail - 19+3 south
Shag - 1CY afternoon
Grey Phalarope - "two very probable grey phalarope - long way out (beyond the red buoy) but they settled on the sea and then I lost them in the waves"
Leach's Petrel - one yellow buoy area late afternoon then lost in rough seas further south 
Skua spp - one very distant bird in Cumbria
Kittiwake - 15 or so behind the IOM ferry, one out
Med Gull - 2 adult
Guillemot - one in the waterfall area of harbour
Linnet - 7
Twite - 1
Goldfinch - c15
 
Office area
Bonxie (Great Skua) - one flew west at 1200hrs, almost certainly then headed south
 
Middleton NR
Chiffchaff - 1