The white stuff did not reach us..........yet?

Heysham Obs
No evidence whatsoever of any cold weather movements - the snow was nowhere to be seen, even on the fell tops

At least 8 Shag still in the harbour but only one Kittiwake could be found. Adult Med Gull in the harbour mouth and 1st W Med Gull along the north wall. c70 Greenfinch (including a tight flock of 36 which flew off east) on the Heysham NR feeder - there is usually an influx in early February. Outfalls/Red Nab not visited

Elsewhere
The Purple Sandpiper at the Stone Jetty is most definitely topping the bill - indeed it is pretty well up there on its own - and was seen well at various times today. Beginning to really miss Lancaster Tip and its only been gone a month!

Too busy for birding

Heysham Obs
A vehicular saunter down the north harbour wall produced both the adult and 1st W Med Gulls and there were at least 5 Shag and 2 Kittiwake in the harbour. Outfalls not checked.

Elsewhere
The main news was the continued presence of the 1st W Purple Sandpiper, both feeding at the end of the Stone Jetty and roosti9ng on the groyne by the car park. There were at least 40 Black-tailed Godwit (unexpected) and a drake & 2 female Scaup (expected) close inshore between the Battery and Golf club as seen from a moving car late afternoon. Nothing new on Pine Lake.

Day off

Heysham Obs
Just the 1st W Med Gull seen today along the north harbour wall

Elsewhere
Purple Sandpiper at the end of the Morecambe Stone Jetty am

Med Gull restored to health

Heysham Obs
The 1st W Med Gull was along the seawall this afternoon devoid of its fishing line. An adult Little Gull was in the harbour (very unusual in calm weather). Just 4 Kittiwake and 5 Shag seen

Ringing
A niggling light northerly, the worst direction for the feeder net, led to a ringing attempt being abandoned after one round. Single Greenfinch, Blue & Great Tit were ringed and about 5 other birds were retraps. There are far more unringed tits around than is usual at this time of year.

Elsewhere
Purple sandpiper at the end of the Stone Jetty this morning and a few Scaup still offshore at north Morecambe. Good numbers of duck on Pine Lake but the only thing remotely unusual was a pair of Gadwall

The hazard of angler's lines

Heysham Obs
North harbour wall
The 1st W Med Gull had nylon line 'wrapped round its leg' (no further details = as reported to me). The adult Med Gull was also present along the north wall, with at least 4 Shag and 6 Kittiwake in the harbour. It may be possible to 'whoosh net' the Med Gull at the Twite ringing site and untangle the fishing line.

A tawny owl was heard hooting over Heysham golf course at 2350 hours - Doreen Carman

Elsewhere in the Lancaster area
50 Twite by Waterloo Cottage on the Lune Estuary (just north of Conder estuary on the east side). Med Gull 36W in the Broadway region of Morecambe foreshore. Single figures of Scaup off the north Morecambe promenade. Practically nothing else of interest reported e.g. no interesting displacements to Pine lake due to freezing conditions, a comprehensive report on the LDBWS site indicating that Leighton Moss was 'dead' and no calm sea/decent vis. distant Red-throated Divers seen from coastal vantage points. However, the forecast for the next two-three days suggests that Pine Lake is worth checking for Smew etc.

Heysham Obs 2006 report
20 taken to Leighton Moss this afternoon

Fog and the disappearing Knot

Heysham Obs
Cannon netting
Unfortunately 30,000 [number reported to me] Knot at the heliport roost did not like the fog and disappeared into the murk in sizeable dribs and drabs, heading for Middleton. Due to some technical difficulties, the cannon net catch amounted to 9 Oystercatchers

Sightings in the fog
The 1st W and Czech-ringed adult Med Gulls patrolled the north wall:

Thanks to Sean Gray for these pictures taken today

There were at least 8 Shags in the harbour

Moth trap
The third moth of the year, found in the trap this morning, was the same species as the second: Dotted Border

Report update
The 2006 Obs report is available at Heysham NR office tomorrow from 1030 at the earliest but Leighton Moss availability will be delayed until Monday due to computer registration difficulties.

Nature reserve working party
There is a conservation management working party at Heysham NR tomorrow, starting at 1000hrs, if you are interested.

Elsewhere

Some late news - the Little Stint was still on the flooded field at Aldcliffe (but not there tomorrow)

Annual report time

Heysham Obs
Middleton Industrial Est Wetlands. 9 – 11:30
4 Mute, 14 Coot, 3 Moorhen, 1 Little grebe (seemed very lethargic - never moved in ten minutes I walked around the “no swimming” pond), 5 Goldeneye (2 adult male), 13 Tufted, 49 Teal, 12 Mallard, 12 Snipe, 1 Heron.
Also: 1 female Stonechat, 2 Reed Buntings (first I have noted in 2007) and 1 female Merlin

Minimal coverage, most in relation to tomorrows proposed Knot cannon-netting. 10,000 Knot on the heliport, 4 Twite at the north harbour wall mound feeder and 1st W Med Gull patrolling the north harbour wall.


Goldeneye displaying at Middleton. Thanks Cliff

50 copies of the 2006 report printed today - should be on sale at Leighton, by Monday at the earliest, for £4 and via Heysham office for £3-50.

Heysham Obs
The first bird I was aware of today was a Tawny owl calling whilst out moth-trapping this evening (yes, moth trapping on 1st Feb!). So many thanks to other observers for the following:

Outfalls
Ad & 1st W Little Gull

Harbour
10+ Shag & 1st W Med Gull & c8 Kittiwake

380 Pinkfeet NW during first hour of the day

The 2006 Obs report will definitely be ready by the end of this weekend and, unless there are problems with the printer, it should be available from the NR office on Sunday. This is a colourful 25th year report, hence the slight delay beyond the usual January publication.

Moths
The second moth of the year - a Dotted Border - was in the Heysham trap

Elsewhere
Up to 4 Hawfinch reported at Woodwell, at least one multiobserved. Several reports of NW-moving Pink-footed Geese

Small Brindled Beauty moths trapped at High Tatham (last night) and Old Moor Road, nr Wennington, this evening.

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.