Stonechat influx

Ocean Edge foreshore was quite a haven for waifs and strays today and held at least five Stonechat and other odds and ends

Chough - second field north of half moon bay am at least

Iceland Gull - 3rd W on new waterfall am at least
Velvet Scoter - ad drake seen from Knowlys road lower section at 1510ish in flight with Eider.  Note the specific time - from this site need to be there with scope about 1530 onwards tomorrow
Med Gull - ad Knowlys road roost but no sign (as would be usual; invariably leaves late Feb) of the Czech bird
Ringed Plover - 20+ Knowlys road field at HT

Ocean Edge saltmarsh and area

Thanks for these Janet - Malcolm put a lot of legwork in today and the fare along the coast south of here was zilch despite some nice flushes - it was all concentrated on the saltmarsh or caravan site edge

Stonechat - 5 (2 males)
Meadow Pipit - 2
Redwing - 15-20 (including HNR)
Linnet - 2
Rock Pipit - 1
Woodcock - one HNR
Jack Snipe - 4 OE saltmarsh
Snipe - out of usual area birds in sheep field and on HNR (2)

Survival of the fittest and a brand new waterfall

A few birds struggling today, notably a Redshank in the seawall roost at the heliport which keeled over, rolled down the slope and drowned.  What a way to go.  As can be seen below, quite a lot of displacement including the first Golden Plover and Fieldfare of the year

Knowlys Road lower section vantage point
The Eider were doing there usual fly back north in the latter stages of the tide and included two plain-winged scoter spp, presumably Common slightly further out than the Eider line.
Velvet Scoter - drake flew in along the Eider line about 1430, having just previously been located floating out

Half Moon Bay fields
Golden Plover - probably two different birds - IOY
Fieldfare 1 - also IOY
Negative on Chough despite being there c30 mins

Heysham NR
Woodcock - 2
Snipe - 2
Redwing - 15+

Ocean Edge area (Malcolm)
Saltmarsh
Full of birds, including:
1 female Stonechat
6 Redwing, 2 Song thrush, 1 Blackbird all grounded.

1 Skylark
1 Dunlin was very confiding, flew in to less than 2m from me to feed (see pic below)

Jack Snipe - c10
Common Snipe - 10
Ocean edge foreshore.
Stonechat - male new in

Red Nab
Song Thrush - 1

Harbour area
The gulls in the harbour, including Iceland, were feeding under the opposite waterfall. Presumably something has changed to allow this one to provide a food source. This is good news for visitors for two reasons:
1. It is much easier to see from inner harbour
2. Remains uncovered on all but the highest high tide
Location shot attached (the Iceland is on this)

Big three in place

Velvet scoter - seen 1400
Iceland gull - on waterfall mid pm
Chough - mid pm
Rock pipit - three scattered along coast

Heat haze from the east!

Velvet Scoter - fortunately wing-flapped late afternoon as the heat haze was bad from the north wall!
Chough - second field above the café mid am at least
Iceland Gull - south end of harbour lounging around most of the day
Stonechat - the females at Ocean Edge saltmarsh and half moon bay shore were still present
Rock Pipit - one Red Nab
Bar-tailed Godwit - 30 both yesterday and today off the north side

Pleas don't send in Black-headed Gull yellow TM1C which is hanging about the Iceland Gull area to the BTO or Polish ringing headquarters - its a Polish ringed bird and if you let me know you have seen it I'll pass on the ringing details and give the Poles a list of observations and recorders at the end of the winter when it will presumably clear off.  Thanks for the pic and latest report, Mark

Coastal coverage rewards

A great selection in a Lancashire context between Ocean Edge saltmarsh and Heysham Head today for visiting birders and indeed locals, Janet, Pete and Malcolm.  South to north:

Stonechat - female OE saltmarsh (thanks Malcolm)

Shag - its back or another identical bird with identical habits.  Easy to miss when its in this location 'below' the wooden jetty remains (thanks for pic Malcolm)

Iceland Gull - 3rd W south end of harbour

 Thanks Janet

Stonechat - female along shore half moon bay
Chough - second field above half moon bay café and general area

Thanks Janet - fleeing an over-inquisitive dog, not the photographers!

Velvet Scoter - a new element to the strategy with this tricky bird.  In the very final stages of the dropping tide, the Eider often readjust their position by flying back north as they are slowly drifted south of the feeding area.  Therefore at about 1155hrs, the Velvet Scoter flew about 500m to the north in the same mode as the Eiders.  First time I have seen it fly and a whole lot easier to locate!!
Med Gull - Ad coming into summer plumage on the beach off the childrens play area as viewed from Knowlys road

Another suitable Velvet viewing day

Velvet Scoter - present off Heysham for much of the day on the neap low tide see n from Knowlys Road mid am (80x best!), from the chapel at 1300hrs (good views with 50 x), then long range views from Knowlys at 1500hrs (30 x)
Iceland Gull - 3rd W waterfall area late am
Chough - on and off in the first field during the day
Pochard - 2 drake Middleton

Skylark - 1 south
Whooper Swan - flock of 19 north over the sea
Water Rail - 1+ Middleton
Coot - still one at Middleton
Gadwall - 17
Teal - 25
Tufted Duck - 3
Diver spp - one distant but probably Red-throated Diver

Productive morning

Velvet Scoter - Ad drake seen off SJ early am then off Heysham Head from just before 1000 at least.  It was as easy to see as it could be at that range from the lower section of Knowlys road, turn down towards Heysham village and look over the rusty barbed wire fence (out of character with this nice area) through the gap and over the green ex-sewer post to the eider flock beyond.  As yesterday, it was favouring the northern end of this flock.  At the same time as being viewed by people from the old ruined chapel; perhaps they were fractionally closer.  A cheeky visiting birder asked why we hadn't nailed it more regularly during the rest of this winter - how much clear sunny weather have we had at the correct tidal stages without rough westerly wind seas!  Someone must have some fancy optics and/or a (slight) heat haze filter as the Velvet Scoter was reported as visible from the half moon bay café at lunchtime!
Iceland Gull - 3rd W.  A quick check at 10ish saw it feeding below the waterfall
Chough - In quick succession found out it was seen in fields yesterday pm and again at at least 1115 today but I don't think earlier on.  See comments made yesterday
Great-crested Grebe - 4 offshore, including pair
Med Gull - ad Knowlys road with BHG gang as usual - getting near full sp
Goldeneye - the ad drake again inshore off the north side of the headland

Velvet Scoter on a plate...................from at least 30 x

Easy to see from the VP at Heysham Head Chapel this morning as it fed with the Eider flock at low tide and the very beginnings of tidal flow.  Hopeless in the afternoon off the Stone Jetty today - a long way out with the sun 'too far round' to pick it up before it floated past

Chough - seen pm but more elusive with the fields being drier and colder and food presumably more difficult to obtain.  This is going to get worse in the next few days if not fortnight
Iceland Gull - 3W on waterfall/harbour am, then on Red Nab for second day running late afternoon
Pink-footed Goose - 120 south
Siskin - heard Heysham Head

First hints of the beast

A bit colder this am but the Chough still in field feeding mode as opposed to grovelling around at the cliff base.

Velvet Scoter - not looked for in the Heysham feeding area but distantly (more so than yesterday by all accounts) off the Stone Jetty on the float-in at c1240
Chough - second field late am
Iceland Gull - waterfall at least 1100hrs
Redwing - 3 grounded Middleton
Pochard - two drakes still
Tufted Duck - pair
Nothing singing or calling in colder weather at Middleton

Distant Velvet tracking and Cetti's at last

Chough - first two fields north of café, but a bit mobile
Iceland Gull - 3rd W SW corner of harbour am at least
Goldeneye - drake again seen inshore from Knowlys Road
Velvet Scoter - in the recording area with the most southerly Eider gang off the north wall before the tidal flow, then in a 'fast lane' twice as far out as yesterday, overtaking some more inshore birds off the Stone Jetty, then surprisingly ended up not floating into the middle of the Bay, but heading towards Teal Bay, albeit equally distantly and it was seen from there near high tide.  Beware a drake Common Scoter just beyond the first gang of distant Eiders off the SJ, but not seen at Heysham
Eider - 680ish
Cetti's Warbler - contact calling in one of the usual locations near the Middleton 'fence pond'
Siskin - 5 off-passage by Knowlys road - feeder?  IOY
Reed Bunting - singing male Middleton
Water Rail - 1+
Goldcrest - one golf course edge
Coal Tit - golf course edge
Skylark - 1 N

Wildfowl as yesterday, including the two drake Pochard

No sign Green Woodpecker