Leach's and Sabine's double!

The strong overnight winds continued from SW till late morning, then it started to ease slightly.

Yesterday Pete said that we needed some squalls to bring in the Leach's Petrels, none yesterday but several heavy squalls today. Unfortunately Pete was stuck at home with car problems, and missed the "most promising" seawatch day for a while.

Report by Dave Hawkins (many thanks)

Heysham north wall seawatch.  7/10/22 1200-1500 hrs

1 Leach’s Petrel flew in NNE direction into bay at 1302hrs

1 Sabine’s Gull juv came out of bay at mid distance 1402 heading SSW.  It was in no hurry often dipping down on water, occasionally landing. I would guess it was probably viewable distantly from outfalls.

1 RTDiver winter landed on sea then lost in the troughs.

1 Gannet adult into bay.

1 Guillemot out of bay

c 30 Eider majority males after tide turned

3 Tufties out

10 Shelduck

South shore 

I checked on the rising tide from about 09:00 (MD) The wind was strong and the skies black but the heavy rains held off till I reached the lighthouse, although whether there was light rain or just sea spray along the sea wall was arbitrary. Then a heavy squall forced me to shelter for 15 minutes behind the lighthouse. 

Linnet 13 on Saltmarsh 

Skylark 2 originally on saltmarsh but moved to foreshore 

Rock Pipit 9 - 2 arguing on Red Nab, 6 arguing near slipway, 5 flew to the east side and 2 returned. 1 near lighthouse.

Guillemot 1 struggling along the foreshore. Its little outboard motors working overtime.

It might look to be struggling, but it was making headway and the sheltered water of the saltmarsh bay was only 100m away. I fully expected to see it resting there on my return, but there was no sign, so it must have rested and moved on.

Loads of gulls sheltering in the lee of the foreshore including at least one adult Mediterranean gull

Lapwing 37

Redshank c150

Common Snipe 1

All on saltmarsh 

Wigeon 4 south plus 2 on Red Nab then saltmarsh 

This shot of Oystercatcher moving to high water roost was taken from the shelter of lighthouse at the height of the squall, it gives an impression of the lack of visibility due to the heavy rain.

Oystercatcher battling through a squall

I had another walk along the wall later in the afternoon, this time a squall had just ended and the winds started to ease. In addition to this morning's records:

Kingfisher 1 on Red Nab

Once again it had flown out from the freshwater culvert in the sea wall. This shot is looking down at the culvert from the top of the wall. You are not likely to get here without it have already flown out, if it was there. But it's worth keeping an eye on it as you approach.

Freshwater culvert at Red Nab

Mediterranean gulls 11 adult feeding on beach near wooden jetty 

Eider 2 in harbour mouth - looks like this youngster is a male.

Jackdaw 26 in one noisy flock flew low overhead east along the sea wall

Peregrine Falcon 1 adult

Report from Janet:

Kingfisher 1 at the small pond along the dog walk, probably the same as the one seen at Red Nab. This pond is full of Rudd/goldfish hybrids 

Speckled Wood and Common Darters also along dog walk

Finally this excellent shot from yesterday. Lesser Black-Backed gull with a crab by Kevin Singleton.