Lots of west wind + lots of observers = plenty of birds. Some good ones!

The very strong SW winds overnight switched to a westerly during the day, not starting to ease until evening. It remained mercifully dry (apart from the sea spray)

LDBWS Field Meeting at Heysham Head

This report by Nick Godden

Ten of us met at 7am for an enjoyable seawatch, some of the group remained until 12.30
Whooper swan 19 NE
Shelduck 335 S
Wigeon 33 S
Pintail 28 S
Teal 4 S
Common scoter c.20 into the Bay
Eider c.70
Diver sp 1 out
Little gull 41 S
Kittiwake 52
Black-headed gull 6 S
Sabine’s gull probable out (Dan only)
Skua sp 1 S
Leach’s petrel 1 S around 10.40
Gannet 5 S
Razorbill 1 S
Guillemot 3 S
Grey plover 2
Sanderling 2
Knot c.2000
Redshank c.450
Goldcrest 1

For more information about LDBWS check the website

https://lancasterbirdwatching.org.uk/

Heliport - Malcolm 10:30 - 11:00

The high tide 9.2m was attenuated by the storm surge and the waves were breaching the wall forcing all the birds onto the grass.

Heliport grass with a substantial pool formed

Oystercatcher 2000

Curlew 6

Lapwing 10

Redshank 500

Knot 250

Common Snipe 15

Turnstone 20

Meadow Pipit 1

Little Gull 3 (an adult south and two 1st calendar year with the waders)

This is one of them coming to the Heliport 

1cy Little Gull amongst the Oystercatchers showing just how little they are

2 x 1cy Little gulls in this shot, one takes a bit of finding 

This one doing a spot of walking on water. It seemed to be finding something to eat.

Common Snipe

Turnstone, Redshank and a couple of Knot

South shore - Malcolm

I tried to go along the sea wall this morning, but the wind was too strong. It was hard walking against it, but the danger lay in trying to walk back with it. I tried and was almost blown over so decided to retreat to the shelter of the saltmarsh.

Wigeon 100+

This group were feeding on seeds washed into the margins

Jack Snipe 1 flew from the margin where the above clip was taken

Reed Bunting 5

Greenfinch 8

Linnet 80+

Linnet

They were finding seeds in last night's strand line 

I tried the sea wall again this afternoon. The wind was just as strong, but the slightly more westerly angle afforded some protection. Even so it was a hard walk.

Little Gull  6 minimum. 1 adult and at least 1 1st calendar year feeding on No.2 outfall. 4 adult out from the roundhead.

1cy Little Gull

Adult Little Gull with a 1cy Black-Headed Gull

Adult Little Gull

Mediterranean Gull 2 - 1 out past the roundhead and 1 flew along the sea wall.

Mediterranean Gull with Oystercatchers 

Storm Boelo did some damage! 

All the weights, designed to keep the railings in place, were moved. 
The railing stayed where it was!

A substantial chunk of roundhead wall now rests on top of the wall

This large buoy has been blown from somewhere. It is not one of the red ones
marking the shipping lane, but will have its GPS location transmitted so it can
be recovered before becoming too damaged