Heysham Obs
A bit of coverage today not without interest, although the sea would surely have been better but for the ring of turbines in the outer bay funnelling stuff to the west of them
Sea on and off to 1030hrs
Arctic Skua - dark morph in at a vast rate of knots at 0925hrs
Gannet - 1+1+1+1+3 out once it cleared
Miscellany
Siskin - at least 4 on the feeders by the office
Wheatear - Ocean Edge: gang of three males moved rapidly inland over the caravans followed by two more later
Ringed Plover - 38 Ocean Edge grass
Dunlin - 10 Ocean Edge grass
Mammals
Harbour Porpoise - one off the north wall at 0740
Grey Seal - one south wall area high tide
The observatory was set up in 1980. It involves ringing,'vis mig' counts (including seabirds) and general monitoring in the Heysham Nature reserve/power stations/harbour area. The statutory moth trap is in place and also a daily log for butterflies, dragonflies etc. We share an office, kindly provided by EDF Energy, with the County Wildlife Trust. This is located next to the Nature Reserve car park. Do call in. Please leave sightings in the letterbox, ESPECIALLY 'fly-by' seabirds.