Manx Shearwater

A much cooler NE breeze first thing, moving due east by evening. Mainly overcast with a few sunny spells.

Jean made a valiant effort from Heysham Head, but there was nothing over the sea and not much moving overhead. Still she managed the following in 50 minutes.

Linnet 14

Redpoll 1

Siskin 1

North shore

An evening check by Nick Godden (18:15 - 19:15) located

Manx Shearwater 2 (first of the year)

Sandwich Tern 30

South Shore

Bar-Tailed Godwit flock of 3 heading in to the bay.

Nothing at all heard overhead, but there were 5 Wheatear grounded

These two males were near the lighthouse (I do like pictures of land birds
with the sea as a backdrop - you can see it's much choppier today (MD))

Rock Pipit 2 - the ringed male was standing guard at the nest site near lighthouse. 1 on Red Nab, possibly same bird as one displaying along the sea wall.

Linnet 2 on Red Nab eating dandelion seeds

There were c150 Turnstone on the rocks near No.1 outflow. This slab was particularly popular, they appear to be prising off small barnacles. There is quite a plumage range between winter and summer plumage.

Whimbrel 3 - two singles flying in plus one calling on Red Nab

Middleton Nature Reserve - afternoon 

Swallow 1 having a drink from the main pond.

Little grebe 1 on Tim Butler pond, they bred here last year

Common Whitethroat 2 - I'd bumped into Kevin earlier and he commented that we hadn't heard a Whitethroat yet. Later, on independent checks, we both heard them. This one was near Tim Butler pond - not quite full throttle yet.

welcome back