Sunday 16 July 2023

Storm Petrel best of the wind blown stuff

The very strong overnight west - SW wind eased by morning but it was still strong. Mainly dry after some early showers.

Report from Pete Crooks:

Red Nab – Heysham Harbour (8.05 – 9.50 am)
11 Mediterranean Gull – 5 adults, 2 1st summer, 4 juveniles – between Red Nab and Heysham Stage 2 outfall
8 adult Common Tern – 5 at Heysham Stage 1 outfall, 2 at Heysham Stage 2 outfall, 1 at Red Nab
29 Cormorant – Wooden Pier

Heysham North Harbour Wall (10.00 – 11.00 am)
1 Storm Petrel – c.250-300 m offshore, mostly resting on sea with occasional brief fluttering flights, but seemingly drifting into the Bay with the incoming tide at 10.25-10.30 am. Difficult to see as mostly hidden in wave troughs.
4 Common Scoter (3 males, 1 female) flew out of the Bay close inshore
1 Guillemot on sea
2 adult Gannet flew out
30+ Dunlin flying out of the Bay in small groups
1 Grey Seal – very close inshore – even the fisherman got their phones out to photograph it!


This Report from Gavin Thomas.

Pete (M) also visited, these are his additional records
Distant petrel presumed Storm. Seen twice briefly off harbour mouth c0930 - seemed to be heading out but possibly lingering
Manx Shearwater 1
Sandwich Tern 1
45 Dunlin in four flocks
Common tern  4 - all flying out and therefore in addition to those on outfalls as will have been Gavin’s stuff. 
So a total of 14 Common Tern

I had a walk along the wall but didn't see anything not covered above(MD). 
This is one of the Common Tern on No.2 outflow. They were hard to track in the very windy conditions.


This is the metal ringed Med that was the first to arrive this year.
It is losing its black head, and, unfortunately, its limp seems to be getting worse.
Still it seems to be finding enough food to keep it healthy looking.

Watch the Curlew on the left, it finds a crab and runs away to eat it undisturbed. All over in 30 seconds.

Plenty of butterflies in the Nature Park
Large White 5
Red Admiral 4
Peacock 1
Peacock

Gatekeeper several
Common Blue 1
Meadow Brown several
Worn male Meadow Brown