Another Pink-foot day

Heysham Obs
c15 minutes mid-morning saw 450 Pink-footed Geese heading NW, in three skeins

An afternoon run round the usual circuit produced:

Stage 2 outfall
Ad Med Gull
Ad & 1st W Little Gull

Harbour
11 Shag scattered around, possibly more
13 Kittiwake (2 adult)

Middleton IE
13 Tufted Duck & female Goldeneye

Elsewhere
Ad Med Gull at Stodday, 6 Barnacle Geese with increased numbers of Pinkfeet at Lane Ends, plenty of Pinkfeet flying over the area heading NW during the morning 8 Whooper Swan on the Lune floodplain between Claughton and Burton Wood

Connection with the low tide Med

Heysham Obs
Power Station Outfalls
For the last two winters, a large adult Med Gull appears to have been the (same) infrequent visitor, invariably at low tide and on the seaward end of one of the outfalls. It was on the seaward end of Heysham 2 outfall this afternoon

Little Gull reduced to the ?usual adult and 1st W

Harbour/north wall
13 Shag (all juvs) by the waterfall in late afternoon, the highest count for a few days. Ad and 1st W Med Gulls along the NHW. About 8 remaining Kittiwake, all 1st W. 4 Twite on the mound

Elsewhere
The three Scaup (one male) still at Glasson, 4 Bewick's Swan still at Glasson, Spotted Redshank at Conder, good numbers of birds along Fluke Hall lane including a flock of c30 Twite and 5 Ruff. 3 Barnacle Geese on Pilling Marsh with Pinkfeet. Med Gull reported at Sandylands paddling pool. Nothing of any interest on Pine Lake. No known check for the Stone Jetty Purple Sandpiper. No reports of any booming Bitterns at Leighton Moss to date. No sign Little Stint at Aldcliffe.

Very routine........

Heysham Obs
North harbour wall
1st W Med Gull patrolling
4 Twite
10 Shag in the harbour

Ringing
2 Greenfinch, 1 Blue Tit & 1 Blackbird ringed; from in a single net set by the feeder next to the office for an hour or so

Elsewhere
Little Stint still at Aldcliffe and Spotted Redshank at Conder . Purple Sandpiper roosting on the Stone Jetty groyne early morning. 550 Black-tailed Godwit on the Eric Morecambe complex and the rapidly disappearing wetland between Warton and the A6

Pinkfeet on the move

Heysham Obs

A skein of 750 Pink-footed Geese was flying above the bypass, visible from the NR office, early morning, before landing in adjoining fields. Another 300 were in a field to the north of Heysham Moss. In addition, at least 240 in 4 skeins later flew over the Obs recording area, seemingly heading NW.

Outfalls
A small influx of adult Little Gull with 5 adults on the seaward end of Heysham Stage One outfall (by the end of the wooden jetty) at low tide with at least one 1st W on the inner end of Heysham 2 outfall. Ad Med Gull seen at long range on the seaward end of Heysham one outfall - possibly the north wall bird. Two Kittiwake on Heysham 2 outfall

Harbour
9 Shag by the waterfall and at least one other in the inner harbour. 14 Kittiwake in the harbour, many having found suitable roosting sites. Only one adult seen.

Middleton Industrial Est Wetlands 08:30 – 10:00

2 Mute, 8 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 7 Tufted, 70(ish) Teal, 17 Mallard, 7 Snipe, 1 Jack snipe, 1 Pheasant (f), 1 Peregrine. (No Goldeneye or Little grebe seen).
The Teal were very flighty and were favouring water amongst reeds rather than open water. 70 was the most seen in flight at any one time.
Also, slightly unusually, 1 male Bullfinch (calling) and a single Goldcrest.

Freight ferry
9 adult Kittiwake (& lots of Common Gull) following it in as far as No 8 buoy before flying out again

North harbour wall
1st W Med Gull patrolling

Elsewhere
Polish-ringed Med Gull P96 [see below for updated details] was on the Lancaster City football pitch again. Another ad Med Gull was on the river Lune by the Golden Ball. The Little Stint was again present at Aldcliffe this afternoon but the Razorbill reported recently on one of the ponds was found dead. A single Hawfinch was reported from Woodwell. The 8 Lune valley Whooper Swans were seen again (details as yesterday)

Ringed Mediterranean Gull details
Poland FM11199 (Darvic red P96 (formerly P70)
Ringed Skoki Duze, Wroclawek, Poland AdF 19/5/01
Seen Battery car park, Morecambe 31/1/03
Retrapped and reringed: Skoki Duze 19/5/03 (nesting: paired with 5HR*)
Seen Morecambe Stone jetty (with 5HR) 8/3-18/3/04 (but no sign Skoki Duze 2004 breeding season)
Seen urban Lancaster, mainly Marsh estate area winter 2004/5
Seen urban Lancaster, mainly Marsh estate area autumn 2005-11/3/06
Seen urban Lancaster, mainly Marsh Estate area about 25/7/06-into 2007
Seen Morecambe Broadway area of promenade 7/1/07
Seen Lancaster City football pitch 17/1/07
Seen Lancaster City football pitch 28/1/07

*Wintered by the Stone Jetty from 1995/6 until its presumed death or or around 5/11/05

Heysham Obs
A visit at low tide in the morning saw just 8 Shag around the waterfall area and about 8 Kittiwakes in the harbour. The 1st W Med Gull was along the north harbour wall.

Two 1st W Little Gull on the outfalls

5 Twite on the mound (thanks for info, Rosie)

A trail behind a distant freight ferry as seen from Ocean Edge appeared to include some Kittiwakes, but the Eric Cantona level of speciation was more appropriate at this range.

The morning also produced two Song Thrush and a Dunnock in full song as heard from the NR office door

Elsewhere
The most startling record today was a Little Stint on a flooded field at Aldcliffe, a species which is a regular winterer at Frodsham in Cheshire, regularish along the Merseyside coast but extremely unusual at this season anywhere to the north.

560 Black-tailed Godwits still on the flooded fields between Warton and the A6 (after flighting there during the morning from the Eric Morecambe complex)

The 8 Whooper Swan frequenting the Lune Valley were visible (with two Mutes) from the high point layby on the A683 just south of Melling. 11 Bewick's Swan were seen on Jeremy Lane, nr Glasson

1st W male and 1st W female Scaup on Glasson marina, 4 Barnacle Geese Pilling Marsh and a Short-eared Owl at Cockersands

Some 10km square survey work in late afternoon saw the upland fields at the top of Roeburndale pretty dead with a lot fewer Fieldfare and Redwing in the upland areas (at least) this winter

Whats missed is mystery or can someone help?

Heysham Obs
A conversation with a local angler transpired that he had been shown, in the region of the outfalls/harbour mouth, a Little Gull and what he seemed to remember was called an 'Arctic Gull' or something similar and described as a 'rare bird'................by a birder with a scope etc.. All he could remember was some 'light brown across the back' and when I prompted with 'Iceland Gull' as the name - it rang a bell! This was three days ago.

Bearing in mind the closure of the rubbish tip, records such as this will become pretty priceless, even in this 'winter of plenty' nationally. There is just nothing to attract passing large gulls in this area, apart from perhaps the PS outfalls, the harbour intake area and the odd fishing boat at Morecambe. Anyone able to clarify? - it would be just nice to get details to allow this to become a publishable record - you will not be named and shamed for not broadcasting at the time! Thanks

Harbour
12 Shags by the waterfall, 14 Kittiwake in the same area. Ad & 1st W Med Gulls in the harbourmouth

Intended to check the outfalls very quickly just before dusk, but realised that Ocean Edge caravan park property, including the foreshore, is now shut at 1600hrs with security personnel thereafter very politely requesting you not to enter, even with a barrier swipe card. Not sure how long this lasts - Feb 1/2 term?

The 2006 Heysham Obs report with a full colour double-page will be available next week at Heysham Nature Reserve office and Leighton Moss RSPB reserve shop. There may be a short admin. delay at Leighton before the report can be put on the shelves

Elsewhere
NNEW on the Purple Sandpiper at the optimum times (low tide feeding, high tide roost). 520 Black-tailed Godwits feeding in the flooded fields between Warton and Millhead/M601 junction.

Red Admiral stirred into action

Heysham Obs
The highlight of the day was a Red Admiral butterfly soaking up the sun on the south side of the office at 1300hrs before rather geriatrically flying towards the Power Stations. The temperature was about 6C. As I had the door open for ringing activities, there remains a possibility that this butterfly had been hibernating in the relative warmth of the office block. The office was certainly warm enough to attract a Wren inside, which was most reluctant to depart

Ringing: Two hours with a single net at the feeding station, hoping to see what the composition of the 60+ Greenfinches was in terms of retraps etc.. As is often the case with feeding stations e.g. a project to catch all the wintering 'birdtable' Blackcaps in the area sounds ideal in theory.......large numbers of Blue and Great Tits were trapped and indeed almost certainly reduced the numbers of the 'target species'. The first ringing of the year comprised: 9 Greenfinch, 6 Blue Tit, 1 Robin, I Great-spotted Woodpecker, 1 Great Tit.... with about 15 retraps, mainly tits but including another Great-spotted Woodpecker which had been ringed a a juvenile in early autumn 2006 and just one Greenfinch. Oh yes, an unringed Blue Tit escaped!

North harbour wall
Ad & 1st W Med Gulls seen

Harbour
At least 12 Shags and at least 7 Kittiwake

The outfalls were not checked

Elsewhere
Purple Sandpiper still at the high tide roost on the Bubbles groyne by Morecambe Stone jetty.

NB: c/f the Leighton Brent, the two Black Brants are still present in the collection by my house
along with some superb Mandarin & Wood Duck as well as free-flying Shelduck.

Shags on the wooden jetty

Heysham Obs
Late afternoon visit 1600-1625

The radical change was the mass transference of the Shags to the wooden jetty on the incoming tide. Presumably it passed their risk assessment in the much calmer weather.
13 could be seen but there were some blind spots as viewed from the north harbour wall

3 adult-type (one prob 2nd W) and 2 1st W Little Gulls on Heysham 2 outfall as checked at long range from Ocean Edge

14 Kittiwake in the harbour

Ad and 1st W Med Gulls feeding on anglers scraps in the harbour mouth

Elsewhere
Purple Sandpiper still at the end of the jetty at low tide and on the Bubbles groyne rocks
on the incoming tide

Empty afternoon skies

Knot on the Near Naze next to the heliport. Thanks Rosie

Heysham Obs

Just time for about 20 mins birding in latish afternoon. This was the first truly calm weather for a bit and my exit from the office was accompanied by an eerie silence and empty skies. No trail of large noisy gulls heading for the coast/across to Walney. This is, of course, the knock-on from the closure of Lancaster Tip.

Heysham PS Stage 2 outfall

2 Adult and one 1st W Little Gull - good to see them hanging in in the calm weather.

Heysham Harbour

10 Shag in the waterfall area, 5 on the seawall by the sandplant. About 7 Kittiwake & 1st W Med Gull over by the NHW. Guillemot in the harbour mouth

Elsewhere

Highlighted by a 1st W Purple Sandpiper which was on the rocks at the end of the SJ at low tide but not, as far as could be seen, on the HT roost on 'Bubbles groyne' at lunchtime. Also surely a different Guillemot to Heysham offshore at lunchtime. The male Hen Harrier was seen again at Leighton Moss Lower Hide area. Pine Lake provided minor interest in the form of a Red-breasted Merganser and 13 or so Goosander. 4 Bewick's Swan on Jeremy Lane and a further 3 on Glasson saltmarsh

The first heat haze of the year!

The lunchtime IOM passenger ferry as seen today from Harris End fell. Thanks Simon

Heysham Obs
A New Year's resolution was to be more disciplined as regards the length of the self-employed lunch- 'break for birding'. The rigid adherence to 30 minutes included trying to watch the IOM ferry in but it crossed with a freight ferry and the entourage turned round....too far away to identify...because of the heat haze. This irony has happened before on cold sunny winter's days.

Heysham Stage 2 outfall
2 x adult Little Gull, 1 x 1st W Little Gull, 2 x Kittiwake

Harbour
16 Shag by the waterfall, adult Med Gull in the harbour mouth and 8 Kittiwake

Ringing recovery received today
Oystercatcher
FC51375 & col rings Adult Dawlish Warren, Devon 17/11/00
Read in field: Heysham heliport 21/1/07

Thanks to Richard du Feu for tracing this

Elsewhere
A Brent Goose of unknown origin and form was very briefly with the (feral) Greylags at Leighton but only observed very distantly from the Lower Hide. An obvious 'neck collar' allied to not being sure whether it was light or dark may not have ruled out escaped Black Brant - the commonest form in captivity as shown by the sight which greets me every morning on the pond at the bottom of the field! I didnt check today - assume one of them has not flown off. No doubt this will resolve itself very soon. Ring-billed Gull adult just out of the area at St Michael's on Wyre - presumably the usual extremely elusive Fylde 'field roamer'. Keep an eye open for this bird whilst checking the 'muck-spreading' this spring